Chapter 726
The Gift of the Xuanyuan Sword to Suppress the Tang Dynasty
His throat tightened, and he finally knelt heavily on one knee, clasping his hands in a fist salute.
"This humble general...this humble general understands! It was this humble general who was confused, blinded by hatred! I will never forget His Majesty's teachings! I will go back now to convey His Majesty's decree, and strictly order all departments that anyone who dares to disturb the people or commit massacres shall be dealt with according to military law!"
The Tang king nodded with satisfaction.
"Go. Reassure the soldiers and tell them that their blood will not have been shed in vain, and that their achievements will be remembered by me and the Tang Dynasty. The real conquest has only just begun."
Yuchi Gong accepted the order, bowed solemnly once more, turned and strode away. Although his steps were still heavy, they were less violent and more composed.
Inside the hall, silence returned.
Lin Zhu observed silently throughout, without interrupting.
He had expected to see an emperor driven by hatred and expansionist desires, who might tacitly approve or even encourage revenge. But to his surprise, the Tang emperor displayed such clear and unwavering humanity and political wisdom at this crucial moment.
He could clearly distinguish between "minor grudges" and "national grudges," calmly suppress the violent desire for revenge in the army, and say things like "What makes a person human is that they know how to respect life."
This ability to uphold principles and take a long-term perspective despite the support of absolute power, the temptation of enormous benefits, and the stimulation of blood feuds quietly transformed Lin Zhu's initial casualness and condescension towards this mortal emperor into genuine astonishment and admiration.
Looking at the slightly tired but determined profile of the Tang King, a previously vague idea in Lin Zhu's mind became clear and firm.
Inside the main hall of the Fengxuecheng Palace, the sound of Yuchi Gong's footsteps as he left to receive his orders had not yet completely dissipated, and the air was still filled with the lingering echoes of the fierce clash between "benevolence" and "tyranny," and between "national hatred" and "petty grudges."
The Tang Emperor stood in the center of the palace, his back to the bamboo grove, gazing at the faint outline of the city wall being rebuilt outside the palace. His back was upright, yet it revealed a deep weariness and perseverance.
Lin Zhu stood still for a moment, watching the back of this mortal emperor, a resolute look flashing in his eyes.
He had only come to settle things, to put an end to this karmic entanglement that began with the snowstorm. To bestow the Xuanyuan Sword? This thought hadn't even fully crossed his mind before. This sword held extraordinary significance and far-reaching implications; he had no desire to create further trouble.
But Tang King's reprimand of Yuchi Gong, and his words that, despite the dual temptations of blood feud and self-interest, still clearly defined the bottom line of humanity and focused on civilized conquest rather than barbaric slaughter, allowed Lin Zhu to see the emperor's "growth," or rather, the true brilliance of the core of a "benevolent ruler."
This is not just political wisdom, but also a rare and valuable understanding and adherence to the fundamental nature of being a "human being".
In this realm where gods and Buddhas can regard mortals as worthless grass and the strong can trample on the rules at will, a monarch who can respect life and knows what not to do may... deserve more protection and more symbolism.
Having made up her mind, Lin Zhu no longer hesitated.
He stepped forward, and under the slightly surprised gaze of the Tang King as he turned around, and amidst the astonished stares of the few close ministers and guards who had not yet completely left the hall, he slowly raised his right hand.
There were no earth-shattering phenomena, no dazzling brilliance.
Above his palm, space slightly distorted, and a large sword with an ancient design and a deep, heavy aura slowly emerged.
The sword is over three feet long, with a thick, broad blade. It is neither gold nor jade, but has a dark golden hue that has been refined over time. One side of the blade is naturally engraved with the trajectory of the sun, moon, and stars, as if encompassing the entire celestial sphere; the other side is embossed with lifelike patterns of mountains, rivers, plants, insects, and fish, embodying the vitality of the earth.
On one side of the sword hilt are densely and clearly engraved the techniques of farming, animal husbandry, textiles, and other agricultural activities; on the other side are written strategies for governing the country, securing peace, and unifying the world.
The moment this sword was drawn, though no brilliance emanated from it, it exuded an indescribable aura of majesty and righteousness, the imperial might to rule over the eight wastelands, and a heavy sense of weight that seemed to carry the beliefs and hopes of billions of people. This aura quietly spread and enveloped the entire hall!
Everyone in the hall, regardless of their cultivation level or social status, instinctively felt a tremor and awe from the depths of their blood in the face of this aura, as if they were witnessing the glorious epic of the human ancestors who pioneered, overcame obstacles, and established their rule over the land!
"This...this is?!"
The Tang King's pupils contracted sharply as he stared intently at the ancient sword, his voice becoming dry and hoarse from extreme shock.
He was well-read, knowledgeable in history, and bore the imperial lineage; how could he not recognize the Sword of the Holy Path, a symbol of humanity's highest faith and orthodox holy path, which existed almost exclusively in legends and totems?
"Xuan...Yuan...Sword?!"
A learned old minister cried out in alarm, then knelt down with a thud, tears streaming down his face.
"The Sword of the Holy Path! It truly is the Sword of the Holy Path! Heaven bless the Tang Dynasty! Heaven bless our human race!!"
The Xuanyuan Sword! The supreme sacred artifact wielded by the Yellow Emperor, the Holy Emperor of the Human Race, to slay Chiyou, pacify the Nine Provinces, distinguish between humans and gods, and lay the foundation for the eternal rule of the human race! It is the embodiment of the human race's destiny and faith, a symbol of inheritance coveted by all legitimate emperors throughout history! Its significance has long transcended the realm of a magical weapon; it is the totem of the human race's spirit and the ultimate symbol of legitimate imperial power!
The Tang emperor was completely stunned, his mind went blank.
He never expected Lin Zhu to take out this item! Even more unexpectedly, it would be at this time, in this place!
Lin Zhu held the Xuanyuan Sword, his gaze calm as he looked at the Tang King, his voice clearly reaching everyone's ears.
"This sword is named Xuanyuan. It represents the will of humanity to pass on the torch, and the belief in protection and expansion. In my hands, it is merely a fairly sharp weapon, and may even be covered in dust."
He paused, his tone becoming serious.
“But here there is a benevolent ruler, who cares for the common people, can distinguish right from wrong, and knows what to do and what not to do. I am not a virtuous person; I act only according to my heart. This sword is of little use to me. But you…”
Lin Zhu turned the sword around, held it flat with both hands, and presented it to the Tang King.
"As the emperor of the human race, you should wield this sacred sword to protect the land and rivers of the Tang Dynasty under your rule, and to safeguard the hundreds of millions of people behind you. With benevolence, you should practice the way of the king; with the way of the king, you should safeguard the fate of the nation."
This is the place it deserves.
As Lin Zhu spoke, the ancient Xuanyuan Sword seemed to possess a spirit, emitting a faint yet clear sword cry that resonated in everyone's soul! The cry contained no rejection, but rather carried a faint joy and resonance, as if after countless ages of silence, it had finally found a wise master!
King Tang trembled violently. Looking at the holy sword before him, a symbol of supreme glory and responsibility, and at Lin Zhu's calm yet unquestionable gaze, he felt an indescribable surge of heat instantly overwhelm all reason and restraint! His eyes instantly turned red, tears welled up uncontrollably, and his hands trembled violently.
Behind him, all the ministers and guards who witnessed this scene finally recovered from their extreme shock, and emotions such as ecstasy, awe, and excitement erupted like a volcano! They all knelt down on the ground, shouting loudly with choked voices.
"Your Majesty's benevolence has moved Heaven! You have gained the Holy Sword's approval! This is truly a blessing for the Great Tang Dynasty and for the human race!" "The Holy Sword has returned to its rightful place; Heaven's will is clear! Your Majesty will surely lead our Great Tang Dynasty and our human race to unprecedented glory!"
"What a blessing for the Great Tang! Long live the Emperor!"
The appearance and bestowal of the Xuanyuan Sword is far more significant than any imperial seal or royal seal! It is not only an incomparably powerful national treasure, but also a symbol of the inheritance from the ancient sage emperors, and the highest recognition of the Tang Dynasty and the Tang Emperor himself by the Heavenly Court and the sages of the human race throughout the ages!
This means that the Tang Emperor and the foundation he established have received the endorsement of the "Sacred Way," and are qualified and responsible to lead humanity into a new era!
King Tang took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing his turbulent emotions, and stretched out his still slightly trembling hands, preparing to receive the holy sword that was heavier than Mount Tai.
Just as his fingertips were about to touch the hilt of the sword, Lin Zhu suddenly spoke. His voice was calm and even, yet it struck the depths of the Tang King's heart like a morning bell.
"King Tang, before you accept this sword, you must know... This sword is not merely a symbol of power and glory, but also a tremendous burden. To wield it means you must shoulder the responsibility of 'humanity' and engrave the concept of 'benevolence' into your very bones. Governing a country is like walking on thin ice, and conquest requires adherence to certain principles. Can you... possibly do it?"
The Tang King paused, raised his bloodshot eyes, and looked at Lin Zhu.
In those eyes, there was no longer a trace of hesitation or doubt, only a resolute determination and awareness as if one had already made a do-or-die decision.
He didn't immediately answer whether he could "do it," but instead straightened his back and spoke in a hoarse yet powerful voice, as if making an oath.
"I, Li Shimin, hereby swear that in governing the country, I will tread carefully and cautiously, always putting the people first and benevolent! If one day our army marches westward and crushes the Buddhist kingdom of India, wherever my Tang army goes, we will maintain strict military discipline, never disturb the innocent, and never kill civilians!"
I wish that all citizens of the Great Tang, regardless of rank, may live in peace; but those who invade my territory and harm my people, I will regard as mere weeds and show them no mercy! Heaven and earth bear witness to this will, and the sacred sword is my testament! If I break this oath, may I be forsaken by both heaven and man, and may my soul be scattered to the winds!
These words were not only a reply to Lin Zhu, but also a vow to himself, to heaven and earth, and to the holy sword that was about to be obtained. They contained both the magnanimity and bottom line of a benevolent ruler, as well as the decisiveness and ruthlessness of an emperor.
Upon hearing this, Lin Zhu suddenly burst into laughter, a hearty laugh tinged with a hint of admiration.
"Good! What a fine 'governing a country is like walking on thin ice'! What a fine 'treating enemies like mere weeds'! It seems you've already thought it through. Not only do you want to conquer India, but you also plan to use benevolent governance to win hearts and minds, integrate Xiniu Hezhou, and fundamentally undermine the foundation of the Buddhist kingdom! Using the sparks of its internal conflicts to create a prairie fire for our Great Tang? Interesting!"
I, for one, look forward to seeing the expressions on the faces of those bald monks in the Western Paradise as they watch their own backyard, their sacred place of faith, crumble from within!
The Tang emperor, having his thoughts exposed, did not deny it, but his gaze became even more intense.
He certainly wanted more than just military conquest; he also wanted cultural assimilation to fundamentally solve the Western threat.
After laughing, Lin Zhu said no more and steadily placed the Xuanyuan Sword in the hands of the Tang King, who was already waiting.
As soon as the sword was in his hand, the Tang King felt a warm, vast, yet incredibly heavy power emanating from the blade, which resonated rapidly with his own imperial purple aura and the subtle fortune of the entire Tang Dynasty!
He could barely hold on, but the vow and responsibility in his heart sustained him, and he gripped the hilt tightly. The sword trembled slightly, its inner radiance shining forth, as if it had truly acknowledged its new master.
"This sword can suppress the fate of the nation and protect you. I hope you... will take good care of yourself."
Lin Zhu glanced at the Tang King one last time, his gaze sweeping over the excited crowd around him. Then, his figure rippled out like water, slowly dissipating from the hall, leaving only lingering echoes.
"I am leaving."
"Respectfully bidding farewell to the Immortal Master!"
King Tang, sword in hand, bowed deeply in the direction where Lin Zhu had disappeared. When he straightened up, holding the Xuanyuan Holy Sword, and stood proudly in the hall, his slender figure seemed to grow instantly taller, and a boundless, domineering aura, encompassing the eight wastelands and swallowing the universe, mixed with the righteous energy brought by the holy sword, swept out!
He stared at the holy sword in his hand, then looked westward, his eyes burning with an unprecedented flame, and murmured to himself, each word carrying immense weight.
"With the Holy Sword in hand, the hearts of the people are with me. I... will not fail you! In this Buddhist land, there is Buddha; in my Great Tang... there are people! There is the sword! And there is an unwavering will for ten thousand generations!"
Outside the hall, the soldiers, having received the news, could be heard shouting even more passionately and with even greater fighting spirit. It was as if the arrival of the holy sword had instilled in them boundless faith—that faith in their country and homeland could overcome even the ethereal Buddha!
Leaving the Snowstorm City, Lin Zhu rode the clouds high in the sky, his sleeves fluttering in the wind, feeling quite relaxed. Helping others, watching an emperor who might have gone astray being pulled back on the right path, and giving him the power to change the course of history—this feeling… wasn't bad.
Suddenly sensing something, he stopped on the cloud, stretched out his right hand, and quickly made a few calculations with his thumb at the joints of his other four fingers. Although the secrets of heaven were chaotic, there were still some clues to be found regarding certain major events with predetermined trajectories.
"The Five Elements Mountain... the stone monkey will emerge, the holy monk will return to his position... this broken cart of Journey to the West will eventually have to be forcibly pushed onto it."
Lin Zhu muttered to himself.
"Tsk, time flies. It's been three days since the landslide, the monkey was crushed into a 'monkey head mushroom,' and Tang Sanzang fainted from fright. Guanyin, that woman, is quick on her feet."
Almost at the same time he finished his calculations, the familiar system notification sound, which always seemed to appear at the most inopportune moments, rang in his mind once again.
[Ding! Key plot point detected. Journey to the West restarts.]
[A limited-time side quest has been released. Let's go with the flow.]
[Mission Objective: Travel to Five Elements Mountain and assist Guanyin Bodhisattva in completing the process of Jin Chanzi's spirit returning to its rightful place and Sun Wukong formally becoming her disciple, ensuring the smooth restart of the Journey to the West project.]
[Quest Reward: 50,000 Merit Points Divine Water]
[Task Notes. Maintaining the "surface" stability of the Three Realms is also part of the duties of law enforcement. The host may, as appropriate, play a 'mediation' role.]
"Assist in restoring the Journey to the West in the Western Paradise? A reward of 50,000 merit points?"
Lin Zhu raised an eyebrow.
"System, are you encouraging me to cause trouble for the Western Paradise, or are you really asking me to act as a peacemaker? 'Play a mediating role as appropriate'... that's a clever way of putting it."
However, 50,000 merits is no small sum, and it's something to do casually; going to watch the excitement wouldn't hurt. Who knows, it might even help "mediate" for that Guanyin Bodhisattva, whose mood is probably extremely bad?
With a thought, Lin Zhu turned his cloud around, no longer returning to the Heavenly Court, but instead heading leisurely towards the Five Elements Mountain, the famous mountain that had suppressed the Great Sage Equaling Heaven for five hundred years, located at the border of the Southern Continent and the Western Continent. (End of Chapter)