The Song Dynasty was the king for thirteen years before he knew that he was Tianlong.

Chapter 377 Strange Island, Lingjiu Palace (Seeking monthly votes)
Jiangnan, Jiangning Prefecture, Qingliang Mountain.

The morning light bathed the cliff top, and the rising sun illuminated the mountains, creating a misty, endless cloudscape that resembled a fairyland.

Wang Yuyan suddenly woke up from her dream, sat up abruptly, and her forehead was covered with fine beads of sweat.

"How terrifying, why would I have such a dream?" She took a handkerchief to wipe her sweat, gently bit her lip, and her face still showed a trace of horror.

In her dream, she seemed not to exist in this world, but to live on an island of unknown origin.

Willows along the embankment turn to yellow orioles, peach blossoms along the shore flutter like pink butterflies. Though it is a different kind of paradise, it surpasses even the most beautiful fairyland.

The island is shrouded in mist and covered with exotic flowers and rare herbs, making it an ideal place for spiritual practice.

She did not live alone on the island; she also had two younger sisters. The three of them lived and cultivated together. Time seemed to stand still on the island, and they were oblivious to the changing seasons. They soared proudly through the clouds, enjoying themselves immensely.

In addition, there is an elder brother, who is a sworn brother, but the bond between them is so deep that it is comparable to that of blood brothers.

In the dream, she was not called by this name, but by another name, and her two younger sisters were not related to her surname at that time.

As for that sworn brother, his surname is Zhao. He is not only a sworn brother, but also a fellow disciple.

They were all disciples of the same master, and their sworn brother was the top disciple of the outer sect.

Those outside the island seem to habitually refer to this sworn brother as Zhao Da.

Originally, the three sisters lived peacefully on the island, but who knew that the world would change so drastically, and many troubles would occur, like a revolving lantern. The three of them left the island and entered the world, experiencing many crises, and finally encountered an unprecedented calamity.

Wang Yuyan shuddered as she recalled the various scenes that unfolded in the revolving lantern. Although it was a dream, it felt as if she had experienced it firsthand, and the images would reappear before her eyes whenever she thought about them.

Should we tell our great-grandfather? After all, he also had a strange dream, and perhaps he could deduce the omen of the dream.

Wang Yuyan was flustered and hurriedly got out of bed. She had just put on her shoes and reached the door when she suddenly stopped.

Her face turned deathly pale, and her shoulders trembled uncontrollably. She thought of something from her dream, something called the Investiture of the Gods.

In my dream, there was an object called the Investiture of the Gods. My two sisters and my eldest brother all met with misfortune and their souls were listed on this list, where they were made gods.

But who would willingly become a god bound by so many constraints? She was originally an immortal, roaming the East Sea in the morning and Cangwu in the evening, her golden goblet in her sleeve carrying boundless courage. Who among the Five Sacred Mountains and Three Peaks did not know her? Her golden dragon flew across Dongting Lake.

Originally free and unrestrained immortals, who would willingly become a god on the list whose physical body is destroyed and whose soul is restrained?
And the Investiture of the Gods... the very thing that my great-grandfather was drawing and refining every day was called the Investiture of the Gods!
Who exactly was my great-grandfather? Who was he in the world of dreams, in the changing scenes of the revolving lantern? Why did he create the Investiture of the Gods?
Those people are all my enemies, mortal enemies, sworn enemies who would kill me, irreconcilable enemies.

Wang Yuyan couldn't help but take a small step back. If her great-grandfather was really the reincarnation of her enemy, what should she do?
Did my great-grandfather know which character I was in the dream? If he did, why did he keep me by his side? If he didn't... what would happen once he found out?

Is everything in a dream real?
Or is it that my great-grandfather's dream was real, and I was merely observing his daily practice and painting scrolls, seeing it during the day and dreaming about it in my dreams? Was what I was having just a normal dream?

Was my great-grandfather's dream real and my own dream fake, or was my own dream real and I also awakened to my past life?

Wang Yuyan continued to back away until she reached the edge of the bed, her mind racing with thoughts and her heart in turmoil.

I... can't stay here any longer. If the dream is real, it's terrifying. Could my great-grandfather be planning to put me on the Investiture of the Gods list?

Even if my great-grandfather doesn't know who he is in his dream right now, he might turn on me and be ruthless once he finds out. My great-grandfather was unpredictable and had a volatile temper. He even told my mother that he wanted to slap her to death, and he wasn't faking it.

Wang Yuyan clenched her hands together, her skin smooth and lustrous like jade, and gently bit her lip.

Even if the dream is fake, even if... it doesn't feel fake at all. The techniques, magical treasures, and events in it are all as real as if they were real, just like a past life experience, heart-wrenching and vivid in my mind.

Is it real or fake? Is it a dream or an illusion?
Wang Yuyan hesitated for a few breaths, but gradually became determined. She had to leave this place; she had delayed for too long... She had to go and find His Highness.

Your Highness, have you forgotten about me?

No, no, that little girl Youcao has always been by His Highness's side. How could he not think of himself when he sees Youcao?
I am going to Kaifeng and then to Tokyo. Years will have passed since then, and I wonder if Your Highness has changed in any way.

With that in mind, Wang Yuyan began packing her things in the room. She didn't have many personal belongings to begin with, so it was done in no time.

Then she walked out the door, and as soon as she left the house, she saw Xiaoyaozi drawing the Investiture of the Gods at a table not far ahead.

"Yan'er, get up." Xiaoyaozi said kindly without turning around.

Upon hearing this, Wang Yuyan trembled, her gaze falling upon the gleaming golden list on the table, and her expression changed.

"Great-grandfather, I'm going to Tokyo..."

"Oh?" Xiaoyaozi continued writing, "How about I accompany you after my great-grandfather finishes drawing this list?"

“Granddaughter doesn’t want to. Granddaughter wants to go now and can’t stay a moment longer.” Wang Yuyan’s tone was resolute.

"So determined?" Xiaoyaozi put down the white wolf-hair brush, turned around and laughed, "Can't you wait even a moment longer?"

Wang Yuyan nodded vigorously, shaking the bundle in her hand: "Granddaughter has packed everything, I'm leaving now. Granddaughter is going to see His Highness, and will never be separated from His Highness again."

Xiaoyaozi's gaze fell on the small floral bag in her hand, and he pondered for a moment: "Are you really not going to reconsider and not go with your great-grandfather?"

Wang Yuyan blinked and said, "Granddaughter will go first. If Great-Grandfather misses his granddaughter, he can go later."

Xiaoyaozi pondered for a moment and said, "Leaving aside the martial arts I taught you before, have you memorized the Ten Thousand Golden Lotuses, the Heavenly Auspicious Clouds, the Jade Purity Divine Thunder, and the Five Elements Immortal Light that I obtained from your dream and passed on to you? Remember to practice diligently. There are some techniques that you cannot practice until you reach a certain level. Once you reach that level, do not forget them and practice them immediately."

Wang Yuyan nodded: "Granddaughter remembers, granddaughter will not forget. By the way, great-grandfather, there is still a small half basket of mushrooms in the room. Great-grandfather can cook them for dinner tonight."

Xiaoyaozi said, "I have already reached the state of abstaining from grains. I can go without food for many days without any problems. Since you insist on leaving, then go down the mountain."

Wang Yuyan bowed to Xiaoyaozi and then walked down the mountain. The more she walked, the better she felt, and her steps became lighter and lighter. In the end, she was like a happy little bird, almost ready to take flight.

Xiaoyaozi watched her retreating figure, his face twitching slightly. He sighed and shook his head. Tianshan, Misty Peak, Lingjiu Palace.

At this time, a large crowd had gathered in front of Lingjiu Palace, numbering in the hundreds. They were all dressed in tall hats and long robes, with ancient attire, and some were even wearing wooden clogs.

At the forefront of these people was a young man around thirty years old, dressed in a light yellow robe, with a long sword hanging at his waist. He was elegant and handsome, with a refined and leisurely demeanor.

He stood with his hands behind his back and shouted loudly at the palace gate: "Tianshan Child Granny, I advise you not to resist any longer, but to quickly leave the palace and surrender."

There was no movement inside the palace gates; it was deathly silent, as if no one existed.

The young master sneered, "Your Lingjiu Palace has always roamed the world, destroying other sects and bringing them under your control. Those who submit to you prosper, and those who oppose you perish. Now, I will repay you with your own methods. Tianshan Child Granny, what do you think?"

There was still no movement inside the palace gates; the gates were tightly shut, not even a crack.

Beside the young master, an elderly man with a white beard said, "Palace Master Murong, these people won't shed a tear until they see the coffin. I think we should teach them a lesson."

The young master smiled broadly, "The superior man devises strategies, the inferior man uses force. This kind of torment is more painful for them than using force to suppress them. It's like each day is an eternity. They will soon be unable to bear it and will come out and surrender."

The old man nodded upon hearing this: "What Palace Master Murong said makes sense. The Palace Master is indeed full of wisdom and resourcefulness, able to strategize and win battles from afar."

The young master laughed heartily and pointed towards the gate: "Wu Xingyun, you don't want me to lose my temper and launch a full-scale attack on this place, leaving Lingjiu Peak in a bloodbath, with not a single blade of grass left, do you?"

As he finished speaking, the men behind him shouted in unison, "A direct assault on this place will result in rivers of blood and not a blade of grass will be left! Wu Xingyun, quickly lead your men to surrender..."

Inside the gates of Lingjiu Palace, several women from the Nine Heavens and Nine Departments looked pale and their gazes fell on a girl dressed in light red.

The girl was Mei Jian, and her expression was equally grim. She looked at the group and said in a low voice, "You all continue to guard. I'm going to see Granny Tong and see if she has come up with any way to repel the enemy."

The women nodded in unison. Mei Jian took a few steps inside, then turned back and said, "Remember to be careful. If the enemy launches a strong attack, report back immediately. If the mechanical boulder ahead can't hold off those Kunlun people, run inside. Don't fight head-on and lose your life for nothing."

The women agreed, and Mei Jian hurried away. A moment later, she passed through the palace and arrived at the square in the middle of the palace. There she saw a large crowd gathered there, all looking anxious. They asked her questions as she approached.

Mei Jian simply shook his head and said, "The other side hasn't attacked yet. I'll go ask Grandma."

Following her across the square, we walked into a large hall behind it, then turned a few corners and saw Bamboo Sword and Chrysanthemum Sword standing in front of a hall. I went up to them and asked, "Is Grandma here?"

Zhu Jian said, "I am currently in the hall discussing countermeasures with Granny Yu and Sister Fu."

Mei Jian nodded: "I'll go take a look." With that, he stepped into the hall.

Inside the main hall were more than a dozen people, all of whom were the leaders and deputy leaders of the Nine Heavens and Nine Departments: Granny Yu of the Haotian Department, Fu Minyi of the Yangtian Department, Sister Shi of the Zhutian Department, Cui Lühua of the Juntian Department, Sister Cheng, and so on.

Sitting in the center of the chair was a woman with a beautiful face and bright eyes. She was very beautiful, but her figure was quite weak, like a nine or ten-year-old child. She had her hair in two buns, a silver lock around her neck, and wore a bright red dress. She was none other than the Child Granny.

Then she said in a voice as clear as a silver bell, "The people of Kunlun are coming with great force, wanting my Lingjiu Palace to surrender to them and obey their orders, but that is absolutely impossible."

Grandma Yu said, "Since you know they are from Kunlun, Grandma, don't you have any way to deal with them?"

The old woman glanced at her and said, "I only knew about Kunlun by chance. I didn't know much about him. I only saw that he was highly skilled in martial arts, but I didn't find out that he could use magic."

"Spells..." Upon hearing this, the people in the hall immediately looked worried.

Fu Minyi said, "Grandma, those spells carved on the wall behind the mountain are really hard to learn. I've tried and tried but haven't mastered even a little bit of them. I'm afraid they might be fake?"

Granny Yu also said, "I am old and I really couldn't take it after practicing for a few days, and I didn't gain any magical power."

Cui Lvhua lowered her head and said, "I haven't been able to cultivate any magical power either, but I don't think it's fake. I'm afraid it's just that I haven't had enough time. Give me another year or two, and I'll definitely be able to cultivate it."

The old woman said calmly, "Those spells are not empty words. I have mastered one of them, but their power is not too great. They are not offensive spells and cannot be compared with the spells of the Kunlun people."

Upon hearing this, everyone exclaimed with delight, "Grandma has actually mastered Taoist magic! Congratulations!"

The old woman waved her slender, fair hand and said, "Practicing won't solve the current problem. Those Kunlun people outside, whether high or low, all have magic. The leader, Murong Fu, has amazing magic. You are all useless, and it's no use for me to do it alone."

Hearing this, everyone was dejected. Cui Lühua said, "Then what should we do? We can't just sit and wait for them to break in, nor can we surrender to these villains."

Sister Shi said, "Surrender is not an option. I would rather die than surrender to them!"

Mei Jian walked over from the palace gate and said, "Grandma, if it really doesn't work, let's leave Lingjiu Palace for a while and go outside to avoid trouble."

Everyone looked over upon hearing this. Granny Yu said, "Shall we go outside to avoid it? I remember there is a passage in the cave behind the palace that leads to the northern foot of the mountain. It will surely go unnoticed by the people of Kunlun."

Fu Minyi said, "It's not a big deal to avoid them for a while. They've come on strong and seem determined not to give up, so avoiding them for a bit isn't a big deal, but..."

“But not only are there too many people in our Lingjiu Palace, we also don’t have any good relationships with any sects in the martial arts world. Where can we go to recuperate for a while and wait for the Kunlun people to leave?” Sister Cheng said.

As soon as she said this, the hall fell silent; you could hear a pin drop. All eyes turned to the Child Granny.

Lingjiu Palace has a bad reputation, and now there are hundreds of people in the Nine Heavens and Nine Departments. Even if they leave Tianshan and avoid the people of Kunlun, there is probably nowhere they can easily find a safe place.

Upon hearing this, the old woman remained expressionless, her eyes unmoving, her small face tense. She had clearly anticipated this situation as well, and couldn't help but let out a cold laugh.

Mei Jian then cautiously said, "Grandma, Lan'er is in Xingzhou right now. I think... I think... why don't we temporarily go and stay with her?"

"Lan'er?" Granny Tong frowned, a displeased expression appearing on her small face.

"Yes, it's the sect leader's place." Mei Jian quickly changed his tune upon seeing this: "Didn't the sect leader say before he left that Grandma could go there for help if she encountered any problems?"

"What kind of sect leader?" Tong Lao gritted her teeth and said angrily, "What kind of sect leader is that little thief? He's just a scoundrel who steals by trickery and bullies people with his power."

(End of this chapter)