The gods began by supporting Guo Jing to become emperor

Chapter 360 Wanwan Meets Xu Ziling Again, Jieli Khan Dances
Inside the Taoist temple, Xu Ziling sat cross-legged on a futon, forming the Hunyuan Seal. He exhaled a long breath, which condensed and did not dissipate, flying several feet away before dissipating. "Master, I have comprehended the Wisdom Scripture of Controlling the Roots of All Laws, and I have found my future path."

"I have mastered the Misty Sword Technique. The day I comprehend the Eleventh Sword Technique will be the day I step into the Grandmaster realm. However, it is impossible to cultivate in seclusion. Luoyang is bustling and full of worldly affairs, but it is not suitable for quiet cultivation and enlightenment. This disciple wants to leave Luoyang and stay away from the court and the troubles of the world. What does Master think?" As he spoke, his temperament became more and more ethereal, and he looked very much like Su Ming.

In the courtyard, Su Ming lay under a tree, a scroll of scriptures in his hand, relaxed and at ease. His eyes narrowed slightly, and a faint smile appeared on his lips. "The fledgling bird must eventually take flight. Everyone has their own path to walk. Go if you want to."

"Thank you, Master."

When do you plan to leave?

Without a second thought, Xu Ziling said, "When Xiao Zhong comes back, there's still one thing we need to do. After we finish it, I'll leave."

Su Ming's smile widened. He put down his book, turned to look at him, and said, "Very well. You still have unfinished business in Luoyang. Once this matter is settled, you can travel light."

After he finished speaking, his expression changed, and he turned to look in the direction of the Taoist temple gate. "Speak of the devil, and he appears. My disciple, your destiny has arrived."

Xu Ziling was stunned for a moment, a beautiful figure flashed into his mind, and he looked very uncomfortable.

Just then, there was a knock on the door, "knock knock."

The sound was clear in the courtyard, and Xu Ziling guessed who it was. Although he didn't want to go, since someone had come to the door, Su Ming couldn't just show up directly. He sighed softly and walked towards the gate.

Outside the Taoist temple, a figure in white robes and barefoot stood there, her face alluring and enchanting, her skin as white as snow, like an innocent girl who knew nothing of the world, or a rose with thorns, her beauty otherworldly. She stood there as if she were the center of the world, unconsciously attracting the attention of others.

The door slowly opened, revealing Xu Ziling standing behind it.

In an instant, their eyes met, each reflecting the other's image. After a long while, Xu Ziling spoke, "What are you doing here?" His voice, usually calm, carried a hint of panic.

Noticing his change, Wanwan's eyes curved into crescent moons, her pupils seemingly sparkling with stars, and she smiled slightly, "I've come to see you."

The familiar words seemed to take Xu Ziling back to the past, and he regained his composure, saying in a deep voice, "Let's get straight to the point. My master is here, and he will not tolerate your insolence."

Wanwan's beautiful face beamed with an even brighter smile as she handed him the box. "This is what my master asked me to pass on. She said that once your master sees it, he will understand her meaning."

"it is good."

Xu Ziling took the box from her hand and was about to turn around when Wanwan stopped him, "I'm already here, won't you let me come in and sit for a while?"

In an instant, Xu Ziling's face stiffened, and a rare look of embarrassment appeared on his face. He left after saying a few words, "Come with me."

Seeing him like this, Wanwan couldn't help but cover her mouth and chuckle. Before, they had been entangled for a long time, and she had never seen Xu Ziling like this.

In the courtyard, Su Ming opened the brocade box, looked at the human head inside, and noticed the wisps of demonic energy swirling around it. He nodded in satisfaction, "Zhu Yuyan is quite sensible."

Even if he didn't know this person, he could guess his identity: Mo Yin Bian Bufu, a once-famous figure, and novels featuring him as the protagonist were extremely well-known.

Then, his gaze fell on Wanwan who walked in. "Do you know why your master used Bian Bufu's head as a pledge of loyalty?"

In front of Su Ming, Wanwan put away her playful demeanor and said respectfully, "How dare the Yin Kui Sect disobey Senior's orders?"

Su Ming closed the box and gently shook his head. "It wasn't me who demanded that Bian Bufu's head be taken, but someone else. This person also has a deep connection with your Yin Kui Sect. Several years ago, the Song Clan was confined to Lingnan and had not yet invaded Sichuan."

"At that time, the Song Clan was confined to a corner and unable to make progress. It was not until I went overseas and obtained enough weapons that the Song Clan was able to expand its army and eventually take over the Shu region."

At this moment, Xu Ziling was deeply shaken and suddenly realized that it was that time when he and Kou Zhongcai met their master, which changed their destiny forever.

"The leader of the Dongming Sect specifically requested Bian Bufu's head; this is our deal. You should know her name very well."

Upon hearing the inside story, a name flashed through Wanwan's mind: Shan Meixian, her master's biological daughter. She never expected that it was Shan Meixian who wanted revenge. Thinking of the grudges between Shan Meixian and Bian Bufeng, she could only smile bitterly.

She couldn't say whether her master's actions were right or wrong; she couldn't judge them. She could only be thankful that Senior Sister Shan's resentment was directed at Uncle Bian. Otherwise, the Yin Kui Sect would have been in grave danger.

If Senior Sister Shan's request were to destroy the Yin Kui Sect, she had no doubt that Daoist Yu would agree, and that he would be able to do it. She just didn't know what Master would think if he knew about this.

She sighed inwardly and bowed to Su Ming, "Thank you for your guidance, senior. I will pass it on to my master."

Su Ming then asked, "You have already cultivated the Heavenly Demon Art to the eighteenth level and obtained the Heavenly Demon Strategy Manual of the Demonic Image Sect. Have you gained any insights from it?"

In an instant, Wanwan was startled. How did he know?

But with her senior in front of her, she couldn't afford to be distracted. She quickly said, "This junior is dull-witted. The Heavenly Demon Art is profound and mysterious. My comprehension is poor, and I can hardly make any progress. Please forgive me, senior."

Su Ming stood up and came to her. His calm voice contained an irresistible will. "It's alright. After you go back today, have Zhu Yuyan hand over the Heavenly Demon Strategy and the secret manuals of the Demonic Image Sect. Only then will your Yin Kui Sect have passed this test."

Wanwan's pretty face was full of dilemma; she dared not refuse, yet dared not agree. "Senior, this?"

"Just pass on the message. Your master is a smart woman; she knows what to do."

"I will certainly convey your words, senior."

Looking at Xu Ziling, who was standing silently to the side, Su Ming smiled and patted his shoulder lightly, "Good disciple, I'll leave this Miss Wanwan to you. I have other matters to attend to, so I'll take my leave first."

The moment he finished speaking, he flashed away, leaving only a lingering afterimage that slowly dissipated.

In the courtyard, only the young boy and girl remained, silently gazing at each other.

……

Inside the Luoyang Imperial Palace, Su Ming and Song Que sat facing each other.

One wore a Taoist robe, the other a dragon robe; one possessed an elegant and serene demeanor, the other an aura as deep and unfathomable as the ocean. Su Ming picked up his teacup, took a sip, and asked, "Brother Song, were you satisfied with your trip north?"

Song Que shook his head, a complex expression appearing on his chiseled face. “There are many forces in the north, and the situation is complicated. Hebei, Youzhou, Guanzhong, and Hedong are all rife with conflicting interests. The Sui Dynasty only unified the country for a few decades. Yang Jian usurped the throne, but his foundation was insufficient. He can only be considered a patchwork artist.”

"The task of unifying the world is arduous and has a long way to go."

Su Ming knew that although the world was not exactly desolate, the long period of civil unrest had greatly weakened the country's strength, making it no longer as prosperous as the Sui Dynasty. The rise of Wu was only a matter of time.

A unified country is likely to experience a period of growth at the beginning of its establishment. The early years of a country are also when its military prowess is at its peak. Compared to the situation faced by Emperor Taizong of Tang at the beginning of his reign, the Wu Kingdom dealt a severe blow to the Turks at the very beginning of its establishment. In addition, with the death of Bi Xuan, the grasslands were afraid of attracting the attention of the Wu Kingdom, so they dared not come to drink their horses at the Wei River again.

"Speaking of which, the imperial court is preparing for a grand ceremony to worship Heaven. I remember that the Turkic Khan, Jieli, is still imprisoned. Should we bring him out and make an appearance?"

Upon hearing this, Song Que smiled and immediately agreed, "That's a good idea. The Turkic barbarians have invaded our Central Plains, so it's time to reap some benefits. This is just the beginning."

The He Shi Bi is not only a symbol of orthodoxy in this world, but also a priceless treasure. The extraordinary abilities of the He Shi Bi are no secret among powerful families. Who wouldn't want to unravel its mysteries?
The remnants of the Yuwen clan fled into the grasslands, which conveniently provided the Wu Kingdom with an excuse to attack the grasslands. Of course, the Wu Kingdom did not need any excuse to attack the Turks. Attacking you was a sign of respect and consideration for you. If the Turks were too weak, the Wu Kingdom would not have had this intention.

How can you allow others to sleep soundly on the side of the couch?
Historically, those steppe states that could rival unified nations should feel honored.

Even now, the Wu Kingdom doesn't really need the He Shi Bi jade to prove its legitimacy. With two Grandmasters in charge, it's enough to quell those hostile forces.

With the imperial army returning home in triumph, the war was over and the entire city of Luoyang was filled with joy and celebration.

The 21st day of the winter month in the first year of the Kaiyuan era of the Great Wu Dynasty.

This day was an auspicious day according to the Chinese almanac.

All the civil and military officials of the court held a sacrificial ceremony to Heaven at the Temple of Heaven in the suburbs. The whole city of Luoyang was filled with solemnity.

The jet-black armor reflected the sunlight, and a chilling aura permeated the air. The entire sacrificial altar was guarded by thousands of soldiers. These were the personal guards that Song Que had personally trained when the Song Clan rose to power. They had followed him in battles across the country and made great contributions.

Song Que wore a crown robe, the upper garment adorned with six imperial symbols: sun, moon, stars, mountains, dragon, and pheasant; the lower garment was embroidered with six imperial symbols: algae, fire, rice grains, sacrificial vessels, axe, and embroidered dragon, for a total of twelve symbols. He wore a crown with twelve pieces of five-colored jade hanging from each tassel. The jade pieces were arranged in the order of red, white, blue, yellow, and black, with each piece spaced one inch apart, and each tassel was twelve inches long.

He had a precious sword hanging at his waist, and in front of him was a platform about nine zhang high, on which were carved auspicious clouds, dragons and phoenixes, as well as various mythical beasts, all lifelike.

The entire process was flawless in terms of system, standards, and etiquette. It should be noted that since the Five Barbarian Invasions, the elites migrated south, the orthodoxy of the Central Plains was in the south, and the South had the most comprehensive system of literature, institutions, and etiquette.

The Song dynasty clique consistently upheld Han supremacist ideology and, having originated in the south, unified the north from the south—an unprecedented move.

As the auspicious hour arrived, Song Que, supporting his precious sword, strode forward, step by step ascending the steps to the high platform.

A large bronze tripod stands here, a gift presented by the Kong family of the north. It is said to be an artifact from the Eastern Han Dynasty. The patterns on the tripod are very ancient, and the mottled marks on it are traces of time.

Standing on the high platform, Song Que could see all the officials and soldiers below. He gazed into the distance, where the Wei River and the mountains beyond were faintly visible. A surge of emotion filled his heart. This was his beautiful land!

……

On the Hall of Eternal Life.

Song Que sat on the throne, with a group of civil and military officials sitting below him. Various dishes were laid out in front of them. In the center of the hall, accompanied by the sounds of string and wind instruments, the graceful and moving dance of the dancers appeared before everyone as their sleeves fluttered.

After a performance of music and dance, the civil and military officials enjoyed themselves immensely. Some of the more talented singers and dancers even joined in the dance, bringing the atmosphere to a climax.

"Your dance was excellent, my dear minister! Bring some wine!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

Song Que glanced at the court officials and looked towards a corner. "On such a fine day and beautiful scenery, singing and dancing are not enough to entertain you. Our court officials have already performed their dances. Jieli, it's your turn!"

At this moment, all the court officials' eyes also fell on that person.

When Jieli Khan heard the voice, he felt very humiliated. During the Battle of Luoshui, he was captured alive by the Wu army and was treated well. He thought that he would live a life of leisure from then on, but he never expected that after the sacrificial ceremony to the heavens today, Song Que would ask him to perform a dance in front of all the civil and military officials.

This was undoubtedly an insult to a monarch, but he was already a prisoner, so what difference did a little humiliation make?
According to news from the grasslands, his younger brother Ashina Bulishe has already ascended to the position of Khan on the grasslands, which means that DTZ no longer recognizes him as Khan.

Hesitation, struggle, anger, hatred—all sorts of emotions intertwined in my heart, but in the end, only one sentence remained:

"This humble subject wishes to perform a dance for Your Majesty."

Immediately, the distinct music of the Hu people began to play. Jieli Khan walked to the center of the hall and began to dance wildly. At this moment, the gazes of the civil and military officials at the banquet brought him heavy pressure.

Especially Song Que, who was sitting at the very top, felt like he was being pricked by Song Que's gaze. Jieli Khan danced to the rhythm of the music, not daring to make a single mistake, for fear of displeasing Song Que.

Now, he is a prisoner, without the title of Khan. To survive, he can only humble himself. After being captured by Wu's army, he regretted more than once being persuaded by Yuwen Huaji and Li Yuan to interfere in the struggle for hegemony in the Central Plains.

Not only were 20,000 elite troops of DTZ wiped out, but he himself was also trapped in enemy territory. But there is no going back in this world. Since things have come to this, he can only struggle to survive.

As for returning to the grasslands, that's out of the question. Wu might not care about him, but his younger brother certainly wouldn't want him to go back. Just look at Wanyan Gou and Emperors Huizong and Qinzong. He might even die on the way back to the grasslands.

The grasslands no longer have a place for him.

……

The news of Khan Jieli performing a dance at the Hall of Longevity quickly spread throughout Luoyang, becoming a topic of conversation among the people. People in the streets and alleys talked about it, their mouths full of mockery. This made the Hu people who came to Luoyang to do business feel ashamed, and they had no choice but to send the news back to the grasslands.

At this time, the remnants of the Yuwen clan brought the Imperial Seal of the State to the DTZ royal court and personally presented the He Shi Bi jade, which had been passed down for thousands of years in the Central Plains, to the new DTZ Wuran Khan. This move allowed them to gain a foothold in DTZ.

(End of this chapter)