Starting with the creation of the Immortal Clan through the compilation of the family genealogy.

Chapter 149 Xiao Yan's Vision, Imperial Edict (Two chapters combined)

Even late at night, the capital city of Beijing was still brightly lit.

In the imperial study, Emperor Xiao Yan of Dali was reviewing urgent military reports from the northern border, his brows furrowed.

Just then, a series of hurried footsteps came from outside the hall. Prince Xiao Beichen of Zhenbei, dressed in a dusty royal robe, pushed open the door and entered without waiting for an announcement.

"His Majesty!"

Xiao Yan put down his vermilion brush, raised his head, and saw the complex expression on his younger brother's face, a mixture of exhaustion, shock, and excitement. He did not get angry.

"It seems that your trip to Qingzhou has brought you unexpected gains."

"It's more than just a harvest!"

Xiao Beichen walked to the imperial desk, his voice trembling with barely suppressed excitement, "Your Majesty, I have made a startling discovery that concerns the fate of our Great Li Kingdom. I came here immediately upon arrival."

He recounted what he had seen and heard at the Tianyan Sect, from the ancient secret realm and the Soul Tempering Pool to the broken stone wall that contained the true meaning of the Great Dao of Body Refinement.
Then, she recounted in detail the "Severance of All Laws" curse between Meng Yan'an's eyebrows, a curse that even made this prince feel uneasy.

When Xiao Yan heard that Prince Xiao Beichen of the dynasty had actually been poisoned by the curse and coughed up blood, a hint of emotion finally appeared on his usually calm face.

“I have only ever seen records of such curses originating from the level of rules in the oldest secret texts of the royal family, and they are all related to those extraterrestrial demons.” Xiao Yan slowly stood up and walked to the window.

"So, Meng Xihong created the 'Furnace Classic' initially just to save his son?"

“Exactly.” Xiao Beichen nodded. “But he used this as a foundation to lay out a grand plan. He presented me with two conditions.”

"tell me the story."

"Firstly, Your Majesty, please issue the 'Heavenly Decree' to proclaim to the world that the 'Furnace Scripture' is the orthodox scripture of the human race, and all people of the Great Li may practice it. Anyone who obstructs it shall be punished as 'severing the foundation of the human race'!"

"Secondly, the dynasty needs to open all the armories and medicine stores in the counties and prefectures to provide resources to the Tianyan Sect at cost price and help it promote its cultivation techniques to every corner of Dali."

Xiao Beichen then added, “Your Majesty, I have personally witnessed the Tianyan Sect disciples cultivating this method. Although it is domineering, it consumes a great deal of energy from the physical body and must be supplemented with a special medicinal bath.”

The recipe for this medicinal bath is probably known only to Meng Xihong, which is one of the reasons why he dared to reveal the "Red Furnace Classic" to the public.

Even if we forcibly seize the techniques, we will not be able to promote them on a large scale.

Moreover, I have seen the source of that technique, an ancient and dilapidated stone wall.

Its Daoist principles are chaotic and violent; ordinary people would be injured if they touched it, and it is impossible for them to comprehend it.

Only Meng Xihong was able to extract the true meaning from it and continuously supplement and deduce the techniques.

It can be said that he himself is the true "living inheritor" of the "Baking Furnace Classic".

Killing him is tantamount to severing the path of body refinement with one's own hands.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Yan was not angry at all; instead, he laughed.

"What a cunning Meng Xihong! He's using the power of our Great Li Kingdom to irrigate his own fields!"

Xiao Beichen said solemnly, "Your Majesty, although he has selfish motives, his actions are beneficial to the country and the people."

If the path of body refinement can be restored to its former glory, everyone in our Great Li will be like a dragon, and the scourge of the demon race in the Northern Border will surely be quelled!

"I understand." Xiao Yan's smile faded, his eyes becoming deep and unfathomable.
"He made the basic techniques of the 'Furnace Classic' public, seemingly selfless, but the core killing techniques must still be firmly in his own hands."

He was using the fastest speed to select the most suitable candidates for cultivating the body-refining path, then recruit them into the sect and impart the true core knowledge to them.

This man is a ruthless tyrant, not a saint.

He changed the subject, his tone becoming slightly mocking.

"I have considered those reclusive body-refining families. But their traditions are ancient artifacts, which may not be suitable for people today."

Moreover, those misers, each guarding their own cultivation techniques like precious jewels, expect them to share them with ordinary people? A pipe dream!

"Even if they were willing, the price they would offer would probably be a hundred times more greedy than Meng Xihong's."

Meng Xihong is a smart man; his requests are all within my acceptable range.

Xiao Yan's gaze suddenly sharpened, and his voice deepened.

"Most importantly, I can't wait any longer."

"Beichen, do you know what we discovered when I and the Imperial Censor observed the stars at night some time ago?"

Before Xiao Beichen could answer, he said to himself, "The seal that has suppressed the demon for thousands of years has loosened."

A trace of something that shouldn't be there was already seeping out from the crack.

Upon hearing this, the temperature in the Imperial Study seemed to drop several degrees.

"So, whether Meng Xihong is a tyrant or a saint, it doesn't matter."

"As long as his sword can help me slay demons and monsters, and guard the borders of Dali, why shouldn't I grant him these conditions!"

Emperor Wu of Han (Xiao Yan) made the final decision: "What I need now is a ruthless and capable leader who can serve the country, not a saint who is untouched by karma."

His conditions are granted!

Then, with a mere thought, an invisible, boundless divine power silently spread from the imperial study, instantly enveloping the entire majestic imperial city.

……

Imperial Observatory, Star Observatory.

The old man with white hair and beard was holding an astrolabe, calculating something in the sky, his brows furrowed, as if he were lost in some profound confusion.

Just then, a majestic voice resounded deep within his consciousness:

"Old Li, come to the palace."

The old man's deductions abruptly stopped.

He slowly put down the astrolabe in his hand, raised his head, and looked towards the direction of the palace. A look of understanding flashed in his cloudy old eyes.

Without the slightest hesitation, he straightened his slightly disheveled Taoist robe, took a step, and his figure disappeared from the Star Gazing Platform.

The next instant, Li Chun's figure quietly appeared in front of the palace gate of the Imperial Study, as if he had always been standing there.

The palace doors opened silently, and Li Chun slowly entered, bowing slightly to the figure behind the imperial desk.
"This old minister greets Your Majesty."

"You may dispense with the formalities, Supervisor." Xiao Yan went straight to the point, briefly explaining the matter of Meng Yan'an, and asked, "With the fate of my Great Li Kingdom, can this curse be broken?"

Upon hearing this, Supervisor Li Chun calculated with his fingers, his expression growing increasingly solemn.

He walked up to Xiao Beichen, pointed the star chart at him, and a trace of the remaining curse aura was drawn out.

Li Chun looked at the wisp of black energy on the star chart that was constantly struggling and full of the meaning of destruction and end, and sighed deeply.

"Your Majesty, this curse is the product of the evil thoughts of the Demon Emperor, and it is rooted in the rules of the Great Dao."

Although our Great Li's national fortune is strong, it can suppress its ferocity and weaken its influence, preventing it from further devouring the child's life. However, to completely eradicate it is beyond the reach of national fortune.

"Then what should we do?" Xiao Yan frowned.

"The one who tied the knot must untie it," Li Chun said slowly. "This curse originates from the rules, so it needs to be resolved with the power of rules at a higher level."

The old minister once read a legend in an ancient book: the summit of Yunji Mountain in the far west is the site of an ancient battlefield, a place fraught with danger, yet also harboring a glimmer of hope.

A powerful being once strayed into this place and found a 'Nine-Turn Reincarnation Flower'. This flower contains the power of reincarnation, and perhaps... with the great power of reincarnation of this flower, the evil thoughts of the demons can be completely obliterated, and life can be restored.

Xiao Yan and Xiao Beichen exchanged a glance, both seeing seriousness in each other's eyes.

At the summit of Yunji Mountain, a place already considered a forbidden zone in legend. "Since that's the case, let's pursue both approaches simultaneously." Xiao Yan waved his hand, sat back down behind his desk, and his expression regained its imperial majesty and decisiveness.

"At that time, I will use the fate of the nation as a guide to temporarily suppress the evil curse, which may awaken the child."

As for the method to eradicate it, Beichen, please tell Meng Xihong about the Nine Revolutions Reincarnation Flower.

I have shown him the way, but he must find the flower himself.

Right now, the most important thing is to clear the obstacles for Meng Xihong.

"I will issue the decree now!"

He picked up the vermilion brush and wrote swiftly and skillfully on a blank edict that had already been prepared.

I, the Emperor, uphold the principles of humanity and hold the reins of the nation's destiny. I hereby decree: The path of body refinement is the cornerstone of humankind's self-strengthening, and is the orthodox tradition of antiquity.

Today, Meng Xihong, the patriarch of the Tianyan Sect, has inherited the legacy of his predecessors and created the "Honglu Jing" (Scripture of the Furnace). All people of Dali, whether immortals or mortals, can cultivate it. This is a great achievement that benefits the country and the people.

The "Great Li Body Refining Cultivation Decree" is hereby promulgated. This method is protected by the dynasty. Anyone who obstructs its dissemination or suppresses its practice will be considered an enemy of the nation, and the whole world will unite to attack them! So be it!

When the last "this" was written, Xiao Yan did not stop writing. Instead, he used his fingertip to squeeze out a drop of imperial blood, which was crimson with a faint golden glow, and mixed it into the cinnabar.

He picked up the purple-gold dragon-patterned brush that had been imbued with the nation's destiny, and using his own boundless humanistic dragon energy as a guide, he wrote with flowing strokes on the blank "Heavenly Edict".

Each character carries immense weight, and each stroke seems to outline the laws of heaven and earth.

The moment he laid down the last stroke and pressed down the Imperial Seal, which represented the supreme imperial power, heavily!
hold head high!
A high-pitched, majestic dragon roar did not come from his mouth, but from the imperial edict, resounding throughout the entire imperial city!
Thus, a "Heavenly Decree" powerful enough to shake the entire cultivation world was born.

"Beichen," Xiao Yan handed over the imperial edict.

"Take this edict and return to Qingzhou. I grant you full authority to integrate all the forces in Qingzhou and pave the way for Meng Xihong and the Tianyan Sect!"

"Your subject obeys the decree!" Xiao Beichen accepted the heavy imperial edict with both hands, feeling a surge of national fortune upon it.

But just as he was about to turn and leave, something unexpected happened!
The Zhenbei King's Token, which represented his alliance with Meng Xihong, on Xiao Beichen's waist suddenly began to vibrate violently without warning, emitting a scorching heat.

"Hmm?" Xiao Beichen immediately infused it with human dragon energy.

A faint yet incredibly clear thought instantly entered his mind from the token.

The idea was very simple, consisting of only a few words.

"Black Wind Mountain, the Golden Elixir has laid an ambush, I am the bait, please fall into the trap."

If Your Highness wishes to eradicate the scourge of Qingzhou, this is an opportune moment. If you wish to demonstrate the sincerity of your allies, this is also an opportune moment.

"Your Majesty!" Xiao Beichen suddenly looked up and repeated what Meng Xihong had said to Xiao Yan.

After listening, the Imperial Study fell into a long, deathly silence.

After a long while, Xiao Yan was not surprised or angry, but instead clapped his hands and laughed.

"Hahaha! Well done! Meng Xihong! What a brilliant plan to lure the enemy into a trap!"

His eyes shone with unprecedented admiration and praise. "He calculated that I would send you back, and that I would support him!"

He's not only trying to lure the Destroyer of the Holy Sect, he's even scheming against me!

He's risking his life to force me to place an even bigger bet in this gamble!

Xiao Beichen also smiled bitterly: "This person's actions are truly insane and audacious!"

Isn't he afraid we'll just stand by and watch him get killed on the spot by that evil cultivator at the Golden Core stage?

"He's afraid, that's why he sent the message." Xiao Yan's smile deepened.

“But he’s even more certain that I won’t let him die. Because a living Meng Xihong who is grateful to me and has mastered the Great Dao of Body Refinement is far more valuable to Dali than a dead hero.”

He slowly stood up, his gaze piercing through the palace of the imperial study, as if he could see the Black Wind Mountain, a thousand miles away, teeming with murderous intent.

"Then I'll bet that Meng Xihong is a grateful person. It's easy to add flowers to brocade, but difficult to provide charcoal in the snow."

Xiao Yan's voice suddenly turned cold and filled with murderous intent.

"Beichen, I've changed my mind. You must not only take the imperial edict, but also the troops!"

"Issue my decree! Mobilize three thousand armored soldiers from the most elite of the three camps, the 'Broken Army Camp,' and place them under your personal command!"

Then order the army's array masters to activate the highest-level 'Ten Thousand Mile Universe Teleportation Array'!

"I order you to appear at Black Wind Mountain within three hours!"

"I will show those vermin hiding in the gutter what the might of Heaven is!"

At the foot of Black Wind Mountain, the night was cool and still.

Meng Xihong sat cross-legged on a boulder, seemingly resting with his eyes closed, but in reality, his spiritual senses were already spread out, alert to any disturbances around him.

His scouts reported that the entire Black Wind Mountain was eerily quiet; not even the chirping of insects or the calls of birds could be heard.

This is a sign that a storm is brewing.

"Sect Master," Ji Beichuan stepped forward and lowered his voice, "The brothers are all arranged. The five hundred elite troops from Qingzhou Prefecture are camped in the rear, and our men are at the forefront."

This acting... was incredibly realistic.

“Not enough.” Meng Xihong opened his eyes, his gaze calm. “Pass down the order to have the disciples light the torches brighter and make a bigger commotion.”

I want the rats hiding in the shadows to think we're just a bunch of fools rushing to their deaths.

Ji Beichuan accepted the order and left.

Soon, the camp was filled with a cacophony of shouts and the clanging of weapons, as if a mob of undisciplined rabble were vying for credit.

Meng Xihong nodded in satisfaction, but his thoughts drifted back to his last meeting with Zhou Kangnian in that secret room before he left Qingzhou Prefecture.

"Sect Leader Meng, your plan is far too dangerous. Using yourself as bait could lead to utter ruin if you're not careful," Zhou Kangnian said with a grave expression.

"Fortune and honor are found in danger, and so is a solid foundation," Meng Xihong replied decisively at the time.

"Although the disciples of my Tianyan Sect are fearless, their foundation is weak. If they encounter Foundation Establishment cultivators while clearing out dozens of strongholds, the casualties will be heavy. I need to borrow a few sharp swords from you, sir."

After a moment of contemplation, Zhou Kangnian finally summoned five middle-aged cultivators with composed auras and sharp eyes from behind the screen.

“They are my servants, all of whom are at the Foundation Establishment stage. They will disguise themselves as disciples of your sect and obey your orders. This matter is known only to Heaven, Earth, you, and me.”

At this moment, the five real "fast-knife" fighters must have already infiltrated Zhao Tieshan and Fang Henwan's ranks, preparing to deliver a great gift to the enemy.

Pulling himself out of his thoughts, Meng Xihong quietly took out the Zhenbei King's Token and infused it with a thought containing his own plan.

After doing all this, he put the token away again, as if nothing had happened.

He didn't know how Jinghua City would react, but he had to gamble.

I'm betting that the emperor has enough vision to understand this risky move he's made.

　I'll be posting a combined post today, and there will be two referral bonuses at 19 PM tonight. Dear readers, please remember to check them.

　　Have a great weekend, everyone! Even though it's just one day off.

(End of this chapter)