All the heavens, starting with Little Li Flying Dagger

Chapter 214 The Holy Emperor's Little Tune

Although he was somewhat prepared, Li Shimin's expression still changed slightly upon hearing those words.

But as the future ruler of the world, Li Shimin slowly spoke and asked a question.

"But what does this have to do with your Wagang Army?"

"My taking control of the Li clan is not a good thing for you or Li Mi."

Shen Luoyan remained noncommittal.
"With your military prowess, if we were enemies, I would naturally be eager to eliminate you completely."

"But now it's clear that we are no longer enemies."

"In the current situation, our enemy is not the Sui Dynasty, nor each other, but..."

"Wang Gan!"

Shen Luoyan uttered two words that Li Shimin did not want to hear, and also expressed Li Shimin's true feelings.

But Li Shimin did not easily give in.

“Wang Gan may have high martial arts skills, but even the highest martial arts skills do not guarantee success. I also have Buddhist masters behind me to help me, and even a grandmaster can be restrained.”

"Moreover, although Wang Gan has a great reputation now, his foundation is shallow. He doesn't even have a decent army or territory under his command, so he is not worth worrying about at all."

Shen Luoyan sneered.

"We're all seasoned foxes, there's no need for this kind of probing."

"Wang Gan calls himself the Holy Emperor of the Demonic Sect. The first thing he needs to do is to take over the Demonic Sect's forces. But the Demonic Sect is a fence-sitter who respects martial arts. With Wang Gan's martial arts skills, it's only a matter of time before the Demonic Sect grovels."

"As for the shallow foundation, Wang Gan had already established connections with the Song Clan and always kept Song Yuzhi with him. Given Song Que's pursuit of the Dao of the Sword and Martial Arts, he would naturally appreciate Wang Gan as his future son-in-law and give him all of the Song Clan's resources."

"By then... will Wang Gan's foundation still be shallow?!"

"With such methods and cunning, he forced you, Brother Li, to this point with just one book, 'The Xuanwu Gate Incident.' Do you still underestimate him, Li Shimin?!"

Shen Luoyan looked wary.
"And what is most frightening is not just Wang Gan's methods, but his martial arts skills!"

"Only a Grandmaster can single-handedly break through an army of ten thousand!"

"Even if we combine our forces, how many Grandmasters can we produce?!"

As for Buddhism...

Shen Luoyan's lips curled into a disdainful smile.
"The Cihang Jingzhai is nothing more than a gathering place for nuns who haven't shaved their heads. They are weak by nature and become weak when faced with a strong opponent. If they encounter a martial saint like Wang Gan, they will probably kneel down even faster than the Demonic Sect!"

"Shi Feixuan said she chose you as her destiny, and now you're imprisoned, but where is she?!"

Li Shimin remained silent; he was well aware of what Shen Luoyan had said.

It's just that people often deceive themselves, just like Li Shimin kept telling himself that the Xuanwu Gate Incident wouldn't happen.

Li Shimin's expression changed, his eyes sharp as a hawk's, and he finally made his final decision.

"Then you help spread a message to Hong Fu Nu!"

Hong Fu Nu was Li Shimin's confidante, later Li Jing's wife, and also recognized as the number one martial artist in the Tian Ce Mansion!

On the other side, on the river, the Dongming Faction ships continued their voyage.

Wang Gan spent some time in this mobile haven of comfort, but he also developed new plans.

First, he needs to go to the Pegasus Ranch to find his new father-in-law—the most talented man in the world, Lu Miaozi—and get the gold coins from Yang Gong's treasure trove from Old Deng. Then, he needs to try his luck in Luoyang to see if the He Shi Bi jade is already there.

After all, no matter what the situation is, Wang Gan's greatest asset is his fist.

Fist is power!

Wang Gan stepped out of the cabin and saw Kou Zhong and his companion, as well as Ba Feng Han.

The three were testing their moves and exchanging techniques.
"Ever since he learned the 'Golden Path' of the Longevity Technique, this guy has become increasingly difficult to deal with!"

Kou Zhong gritted his teeth, and together with Xu Ziling, they could barely hold off Ba Feng Han's attacks.

"Not bad... This guy's martial arts skills have improved by leaps and bounds recently. I heard that his godfather has been giving him a lot of extra training!"

Xu Ziling also gritted his teeth.

But there was no way around it; their behavior towards Wang Ganzhong's oranges was partly staged, out of fear of getting the purple egg.
But this Ba Feng Han is truly loyal to Cheng!

Every night before going to sleep, he would even read his adoptive father's "Biography of the Holy Emperor" and could recite it backwards, which left the two dragons speechless and exclaiming that he was obsessed!

"This won't do! We can't win this fight. Let's combine our powers!"

Kou Zhong's blood and qi were surging, and he was already on the verge of collapse.

"I'll form the head!"

Xu Ziling was displeased.
"You promised I'd be on top this time! Are you going to back out again?!"

Kou Zhong's lips twitched.
"Alright, you do it this time!"

It wasn't until Xu Ziling flipped over and straddled Kou Zhong's head that Kou Zhong's expression changed drastically.

"How long has it been since you washed your hair?! It smells awful!"

Xu Ziling smiled smugly.
"You didn't wash last time either, so I've been holding back for a long time this time!"

"Haha, go ahead and do whatever you want!"

Kou Zhong gritted his teeth, about to curse, but was forced back by Ba Feng Han's offensive and swallowed his words!
"Hahaha! You two are making this funny face again!"

"Are you trying to make me laugh to death by claiming to inherit my godfather's favor?!"

Ba Feng Han laughed heartily. Although he had seen the two dragons combine many times, he couldn't help but laugh out loud every time!

"Such an ugly state has already put them at a disadvantage in terms of momentum; this is a victory!"

Ba Feng Han laughed loudly, his aura suddenly soaring, and his speed and the power of his moves became even more terrifying.

"That strange martial art again."

Kou Zhong frowned.
The art of mental victory—the ability to hypnotize oneself during battle and elevate one's mental state significantly.

Although it looks very strange, it is very useful. However, the two dragons also want to learn it, but they can't learn it no matter what they do. They can't take the step of deceiving themselves.

In the end, the two dragons concluded that this was a demonic technique that only a madman could learn!
"All right!"

Wang Gan interrupted the three of them.
"Father!"

The three stopped almost simultaneously and respectfully bowed to Wang Gan.

"You guys have made great progress in your martial arts."

Wang Gan glanced around, a smile playing on his lips.

"Not at all, it's all thanks to my godfather's careful guidance."

"My godfather taught me martial arts, and I practiced extra hard in private!"

Shuanglong smiled happily and said to Wang Gan.

But all he saw was Ba Feng Han's tearful eyes as he stepped forward.
"Without a godfather, I would not be where I am today!"

"My godfather's kindness is like the sun in the sky, shining on me forever, and I can never repay it!"

"If possible, I would rather return all my martial arts skills to my godfather and stay by his side to serve him for a few more years!"

Kou Zhong and his companion exchanged a glance, and both felt a pang of sympathy.

Does this rheumatism and cold really need to be this contorted?!

This makes them look like utterly inhuman beings!

Seeing the expressions on their faces, Ba Feng Han maintained his tearful expression, but inwardly he snorted coldly.

Those two fools, don't they know that the struggle for the crown prince position has always been like this!
“Feng Han, your godfather remembers your good intentions.”

"remember.."

Upon hearing this, Wang Gan patted Ba Feng Han on the shoulder with satisfaction, saying, "Er Long is too frivolous; you should encourage him."

Then Wang Gan changed the subject.
"Speaking of which, have you all learned what I taught you last time?"

Kou Zhong and his companion's faces immediately fell.
"Father, it's easy for you to make us learn martial arts, and it's also somewhat acceptable to make us study literature, but to make us learn music..."

"That's putting us in a really difficult position!"

"And what exactly is the purpose of this music!?"

Although Shuanglong is exceptionally talented in other areas, he is tone-deaf and finds it very difficult to learn music.

Not to mention that the musical scales Wang Gan made them learn were very strange, which further increased the difficulty of their learning.

"Two useless snacks!"

Wang Gan sighed; as expected, he couldn't count on those two.

Just like in the original work, he is supposed to be the main character, but he always messes up and drags things down at crucial moments!

"You two don't understand... Once there's a biography of the Holy Emperor, there will inevitably be a melody about him!"

"Only by taking a two-pronged approach can the people truly understand the Emperor's benevolence!"

Wang Gan addressed Shuanglong Education,
Just then, Shi Qingxuan emerged from the other side of the cabin, her graceful steps carrying her lightly as she floated towards them.

"Just in time, Qingxuan arrived!"

Wang Gan's lips curled into a smile.

"Qingxuan, how are you learning the piece I gave you?"

Shi Qingxuan nodded. For a master of traditional Chinese performing arts like her, learning a piece of music was naturally not difficult.

"This piece isn't difficult, it's just that the melody is a bit strange."

A strange expression appeared on Shi Qingxuan's pretty face.

"It is not within the five tones, but it forms its own style, which seems to be the style of Goguryeo tunes."

Originally, Shi Qingxuan did not want to agree to Wang Gan's request. Apart from the fact that the music was too strange, Shi Qingxuan did not want to get involved in the world's conflicts.

However, because of Shi Zhixuan's matter, Shi Qingxuan had to owe Wang Gan a favor and agreed to the matter.

Wang Gan waved his hand.

"Don't worry about the details; the melody needs to be sung by the right person."

"Ba Feng Han, set an example for them!"

Ba Fenghan stood upright, his expression solemn.

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

Then, Shi Qingxuan began to play a stirring piece, filled with deep gratitude.

After a powerful prelude, Ba Feng Han began to speak. His voice was vast and resonant, befitting a member of a minority group known for their singing and dancing.

His accented Central Plains dialect, spoken in a foreign land, added a touch of deep gratitude to this 'Emperor's Little Song'.

"You came from Dandong, leaving me dressed in snow-white, my longing blooming in the wind."

"Swaying gently in the wind, the fleeting beauty turns into tears, and I wake up crying."

This was the first time Erlong had ever heard the complete sound of this melody; it turned out it was meant to be played in unison with the sound of the xiao!

Moreover, this little tune does indeed have a certain charm; its melody is vast and majestic.

It makes one feel as if they are experiencing the Emperor's grace, as if they have seen the sun in their heart, and makes them want to speak but tears flow first!

"what!"

Kou Zhong suddenly exclaimed, tears streaming down his face uncontrollably!
"What is that? It's suddenly so bright!"

Xu Ziling's eyes welled up with tears without him even realizing it, and his voice was filled with emotion.

"That was...that was the light emanating from my godfather! A light as dazzling as the sun!"

As Erlong listened, he felt his blood boil and his hands and feet trembled. It was as if he had seen the sun, and he felt that his feelings for Wang Gan were not so hypocritical anymore.

When the music ended, all was quiet, followed by a chorus of loud shouts!

"Onion Orange!"

"Onion Orange!"

It turned out to be the crew and disciples of the Dongming ship who spontaneously gathered around, shouting in unison and shedding tears!

Even Erlong, who considered himself somewhat hypocritical, couldn't help but join in, shouting "Onion Orange!" with genuine emotion and tears in his eyes.

"This"

Shi Qingxuan was also shocked. Was her sonic power really that strong?!
Admittedly, she had some skill in music and martial arts, and after exchanging musical ideas with Wang Gan, she was confident that she could make further progress, but she never expected to achieve this effect!

Seeing this, Wang Gan's lips curled into a smile, and he shouted as well.
"Onion Orange!"

As soon as he stretched out his hand, the people around him went crazy, as if they had seen a god, and they all frantically reached out their hands, wanting to touch Wang Gan's hand.

Seeing this, Shi Qingxuan couldn't help but sigh. With her intelligence, she could naturally deduce most of the ins and outs.

"No wonder you compile your 'Biography of the Holy Emperor,' even though it contains many bizarre mythological stories, you still insist on spreading it."

"It's all for the purpose of making your reputation as the 'Holy Emperor' deeply ingrained in people's minds, creating this subconscious awareness, and then stimulating it with your special music."

"They would probably be willing to die for you without hesitation, especially on the battlefield. Such an army would be invincible with its high morale, and would probably be the most terrifying army in the world."

Shi Qingxuan sighed deeply.
This manipulative way of playing with people's hearts truly chilled her to the bone.

"It's just a minor skill. The most important thing is that I need your help, Qingxuan. Without your mastery of music, which is in perfect harmony with nature, I don't think I could achieve such an effect. The effect would be much worse."

Wang Gan laughed.

He gave a soft shout, and a faint Daoist chant spread out, pulling everyone back from their frenzy.

"I was just now."

Kou Zhong snapped out of his daze, his eyes wide with disbelief as he recalled the bizarre things he had just done.

"It's probably a sonic illusion spell. It's similar to the effect of the Demonic Sect's sonic illusion spell that controls people."

Xu Ziling became even calmer and analyzed the true nature of the 'Holy Emperor's Little Melody'.

"That's right... Strictly speaking, it's a sonic illusion."

Wang Gan nodded.

"It is only because you have been influenced by what you see and hear that you have come to trust my authority and power, and have become so obsessed with it."

"If it were a different enemy, someone who doesn't have a high opinion of me, or someone with a higher level of martial arts, it probably wouldn't be very effective."

Kou Zhong's expression turned solemn. With his military talent, he was the first to react, his face showing a hint of disbelief.

"That's enough!"

"As long as we, the family, can trust our godfather's reputation, and with this sonic illusion magic, we might be able to create an army that is completely fearless in the face of death!"

Kou Zhong had read military books. Generally speaking, when the strength difference between the two sides is not too great, morale becomes very important.

An ordinary army can usually maintain a casualty rate of around 20%, while elite troops can maintain a casualty rate of 30% to 40% without collapsing.

However, very few armies can maintain their fighting capacity even with more than 50% casualties. If an army can maintain its morale, it will undoubtedly be invincible and unbeatable!
"Not bad!"

Wang Gan nodded.

Even if he could kill the leader by force, he still needed an army to maintain his rule over the land.
However, Wang Gan himself had a weak foundation and no army under his command, so he came up with this unconventional move to quickly improve the combat effectiveness and loyalty of his own army.

(End of this chapter)