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Chapter 407 The Grand Finale

The turbulent waves have washed away the heroes of the past.

This is a new era in which heroes rise and great events converge.

The Qin Dynasty broke free from the shackles of its past history and embarked on a completely different path, which led to a dramatic change in the global landscape.

Endless opportunities are scattered throughout the world, and countless grassroots heroes rise from the mortal realm, fighting and striving to create brilliant legends belonging to the new era.

As times change and the old gives way to the new, countless exceptional individuals who should have left their mark on history have lost their chance to shine, quietly disappearing into the dust of time before they could truly flourish.

The most representative of them is Xiang Shaoyu of the Xiang clan.

After the fall of the Chu state, the remnants of the Xiang clan survived, moving from place to place and hiding. They seemed to have disappeared, but deep down they harbored ambitions to spread like wildfire. They secretly colluded with the remaining anti-Qin forces in the world, waiting for an opportunity to overthrow the Qin order and restore the glory of their former country.

In the original story, they encountered Gai Nie and Jing Tianming, who were being hunted by the Qin Dynasty. They eventually joined the Mohist school, formed an alliance with them, and then connected with various anti-Qin forces, gradually building up their strength and becoming a force to be reckoned with.

Although the story of that anime came to an abrupt end, its subsequent trajectory, when combined with historical deductions, was already predetermined. It was simply a matter of waiting for Ying Zheng to die, for Zhao Gao to instigate Hu Hai to plunder the government, for the Qin Dynasty to collapse, and for the people to suffer. At that time, the Xiang clan could take advantage of the situation to rise up and compete for the world.

But in this rewritten world, the anti-Qin forces completely lost the soil to take root and sprout.

Their final struggle and swan song were frozen in the war when Qin destroyed Qi.

As the last remaining force among the six states of Shandong, the remnants of the anti-Qin rebellion placed all their hopes on the State of Qi, hoping that it could resist Qin and delay Qin's unification efforts.

But they ultimately overestimated the backbone of the State of Qi, and also overestimated their own remaining strength.

Their homeland has long been destroyed, and these remnants, barely clinging to life, are like rootless duckweed. Even with their stubbornness, they can hardly stir up any storms.

The state of Qi, from top to bottom, had no will to resist and simply compromised and surrendered without a fight.

Throughout the fall of the State of Qi, the so-called anti-Qin forces could only stir up some public opinion, without taking any substantial action.

After that, they lay low in the shadows, barely surviving, but the speed of change far exceeded their expectations.

Before the Qin Dynasty could show signs of fatigue or reveal any weaknesses, the increasingly powerful Qin Dynasty swept away these old forces hiding in the shadows with overwhelming force.

The Mohist and Gongshu schools put aside their old grudges and cooperated closely, leading to the great flourishing of mechanical arts, which thoroughly liberated the productive forces of the world and brought about a tremendous transformation in the people's livelihood and national strength of the entire Qin Dynasty.

At the same time, the Qin Dynasty launched continuous external campaigns, constantly expanding its territory and perfectly resolving the hidden internal contradictions.

For the Qin Dynasty, which implemented a merit-based system of military ranks, the endless territories beyond its borders provided soldiers with a continuous stream of opportunities to earn merit.

Military merits were easily obtained, and livelihoods were secure. With the prosperous era established, the obsession with anti-Qin restoration completely lost its foundation for inciting people's hearts.

The most fundamental reason has always been the will of the people.

With the popularization of new technologies, increased yields in fertile fields, and smooth trade, people across the land were able to live in abundance and prosperity.

Compared to the stable and prosperous life we ​​enjoy today, the corrupt rule of the six kingdoms of Shandong in the past has long been forgotten by the world.

People say that Qin law was harsh, but looking back, the common people of the six states in Shandong never truly escaped exploitation and suffering.

The nobles of the six kingdoms lived in luxury and extravagance, and all their enjoyment came from the exploitation of the common people. They never cared about the lives of ordinary people.

For ordinary people, they are ignorant of national and familial righteousness, unaware of the honor and disgrace in history books, and only care about making a living in the present.

Whoever can provide them with food and a peaceful life is a worthy ruler to whom they are loyal; whoever cuts off their means of survival and forces them into a desperate situation will cause them to rise up in rebellion.

In contrast, the remnants of the six former states today shout empty slogans of restoration, raise the banner of national righteousness, and attempt to coerce the people into reclaiming their former privileges and glory, but they cannot bring any benefit to the common people.

No one of sound mind would ever abandon a peaceful and prosperous era to follow them back to the war-torn and impoverished old age.

Ultimately, the Xiang clan's secret recruitment of soldiers and accumulation of power was exposed, reported by ordinary people, and the remaining members of the clan were wiped out by the Qin Dynasty.

In this world, the Mo Family's Mechanized City never became a base for the anti-Qin rebellion, and Zhang Liang, Chu Nan Gong, and other undercover chess players did not offer any assistance.

The once-promising Hegemon of Western Chu, before he had shed his youthful naiveté and even before he had a chance to compete for supremacy, faded away along with the remaining descendants of the Xiang clan.

When discussing Xiang Yu, one cannot help but mention another person who was equally famous and whose life spanned the chaotic period at the end of the Qin Dynasty.

Liu Bang, or Liu Ji.

Unlike the Xiang clan, who were obsessed with opposing the Qin dynasty and harbored great ambitions, Liu Ji in this life had no intention of rebelling whatsoever.

After encountering Liu Ji at Xinling years ago, Xu Qing secretly sent people to look after his fate and ensure his peaceful life.

Now, Liu Ji is settled in his low-level official position in the Qin Dynasty, diligently performing his duties and remaining law-abiding. If nothing unexpected happens, he will eventually maintain this stability, perform his duties in a mundane manner, and live out his days peacefully, completely disappearing into the vast sea of ​​people, without a trace of the brilliance of a warlord in a chaotic world.

Throughout history, people have always said that heroes create the times, but upon closer examination, it is ultimately the times that create heroes.

Without the devastation of a chaotic era, there would be no opportunity for the rise of outcasts. Heroes of the old era lost their fertile ground and all returned to mediocrity. In the new wave of prosperity, countless new talents, unrecorded in history books, rose to prominence and wrote new legends for the new era.

Old heroes fade into obscurity, while a new era surges ever forward, never ceasing.

At this moment, the Qin Dynasty had already completely broken free from the shackles of history and entered an unprecedented golden age.

The mechanical arts of the Mohists and Gongshu Schools spread throughout the world, and new agricultural tools, new workshops, and new machinery flourished everywhere.

Barren lands were all reclaimed, fertile fields yielded double the harvest, handicrafts flourished, and trade between the north and south was unimpeded. The heartland of Qin was free from famine and refugees; lights shone brightly through the night, markets bustled with activity, and life was at its peak – a scene of peace and prosperity never before seen in the millennia of ancient times.

After realizing the truth that there was a world beyond the Nine Provinces and even more vast lands overseas, Ying Zheng completely abandoned the narrow-minded view of confining himself to the Central Plains. His ambition encompassed the four seas, and his aspirations were to conquer the eight wastelands.

For years, the Qin cavalry has been conquering without ceasing, driving out the barbarians in the north and expanding westward to countless territories. Wherever its military might goes, all tribes submit.

Today, the Qin Dynasty's battle lines have already crossed thousands of mountains and rivers, advancing to the distant European continent, firmly planting the Qin army flag on foreign lands that have never been set foot on by the Central Plains civilization.

On land, the conquests raged on relentlessly, while on the open sea, exploration flourished as well.

Relying on improved and iterative shipbuilding techniques, the Qin Dynasty built countless magnificent and indestructible sea-crossing giant ships, with thousands of sails competing to traverse the blue waves of the four seas.

In the past, alchemists went to sea only to seek immortality and pursue the illusory goal of eternal life. Now, the Qin fleet sets sail only to explore unknown seas, open up new continents, expand territory, and glorify China.

Countless foreign goods, exotic products, and civilizations flowed into the Central Plains, refreshing people's understanding and broadening the horizons of the world.

Every day brings new developments, every month brings new changes; the Qin territory continues to expand, and the people's livelihood and national strength improve day by day, truly achieving daily progress and endless prosperity.

From the emperor and his officials to ordinary people, everyone was striving in the tide of the times. Countless new generals, merchants, artisans, and soldiers guarding the borders rose to prominence, earning fame and achievements, and writing a glorious legend that belonged only to this prosperous era.

The world was in an uproar, a grand and prosperous era was unfolding, but no one knew that the mastermind behind this grand spectacle had long since faded from the mundane world and disappeared into the distance.

With the sword-forging ceremony at Yuyuan in Shushan concluded, the ancient grudges between Chiyou were all wiped clean, and the age-old obsessions were settled. From then on, Xu Qing lived a secluded life, detached from worldly affairs.

He personally experienced the events of Yu Yuan, saw through the bias and regret of divine mercy, briefly ascended to the divine realm, and overlooked the origin of heaven and earth and the vicissitudes of time.

For him, worldly fame and fortune, worldly strife, and the glory of a prosperous era were all fleeting clouds.

From then on, Xu Qing followed her heart and took things as they came, completely indulging herself and breaking free from all constraints.

He disregarded all matters of state, warfare, social order, and worldly consequences.

Sometimes I stand atop the clouds of Shu Mountain, watching the sunrise and sunset, the clouds roll and unroll; sometimes I wander through the bustling cities of Qin, witnessing the everyday life and the peace and prosperity of the world; sometimes I sit quietly by the river, watching the flowing water and the long years pass by; sometimes I sail on the blue waves of the four seas, following the wind and waves, gazing at the vastness of the world and the exotic scenery.

While the world chases fame and fortune and rushes into trends, he alone transcends the game and remains detached from worldly affairs.

This magnificent and rapidly changing Qin Dynasty, created by him, ultimately became nothing more than a landscape he could quietly admire in his leisure time.

Time flows on, the prosperous age is undisturbed, all is quiet, only leisure remains.

Bored out of his mind, Xu Qing turned his gaze to the Azure Dragon Seven Mansions, which had been passed down for thousands of years.

This secret has been passed down through the ages, attracting countless powerful and influential figures to seek it out.

People firmly believe that whoever possesses the Seven Mansions of the Azure Dragon can control the universe and dominate the world.

Ultimately, it is nothing more than the weak placing their life's hopes on illusory secrets of heaven, attempting to defy fate and change their destiny with external forces.

But true masters never rely on external objects or secrets.

For example, the Qin Dynasty, and Ying Zheng, never relied on even a fraction of the power of the Azure Dragon Seven Mansions, yet they still swept across the land, unified the world, expanded their territory by thousands of miles, and their power shook the four seas.

In his early years, Xu Qing had glimpsed the remnant soul of Mozi within the Illusionary Sound Box and knew that the Seven Constellations of the Azure Dragon harbored unpredictable hidden dangers, so he always kept his distance from them.

This item is not something he urgently needs, and it harbors hidden dangers; there is no need to deliberately seek it out.

Now that he has restarted his search, it is because he has too much free time and there are no more secrets in the world that can stir his heart.

He had already uncovered many of the secrets of this world, but the Seven Mansions of the Azure Dragon remained the last ancient mystery in the world.

Mozi avoided it back then because he saw through the dangers, but he didn't have enough power to completely resolve the hidden dangers.

But Xu Qing is different.

He once ascended to the divine realm and looked down upon the great Dao of heaven and earth. Even though his realm has declined now, his foundation still far surpasses that of the patriarchs of the Hundred Schools and the ancient powerhouses.

With the fifth-tier divine sword he forged himself by hand, there is no danger in this world that he cannot resolve.

Unraveling the ancient secrets is naturally a piece of cake.

Holding several bronze boxes containing the Azure Dragon Seven Constellations, Xu Qing relied on the primal bonds between these objects and followed the hidden origins of the universe to easily find the remaining bronze boxes scattered throughout the world.

This ability to trace origins stems from his journey in sword forging.

At the fourth level, he could trace the source of sword energy and seek out famous swords in the world. After entering the fifth level, his path of cultivation improved and his supernatural powers became more and more mysterious. Anything that has a fundamental connection can be traced to its source at will and has nowhere to hide.

With all seven bronze boxes gathered, and the Illusionary Sound Box already in his possession, coupled with the fact that the Moon Goddess and Yan Fei, two top experts of the Yin-Yang School, were proficient in astrological laws, their assistance made it easy and effortless to break the thousand-year seal of the Azure Dragon Seven Mansions.

The shackles of a thousand years were shattered in a single day, and the secrets sealed for millennia were finally revealed.

Each of the seven bronze boxes contains a fragment of a nautical chart. Only when the seven fragments are put together can a complete map of the outer seas be pieced together.

The moment Xu Qing saw the whole picture, all the doubts that had lingered in his mind were resolved.

In the original work, the Yin-Yang School spared no expense in expending national resources, instigated the Qin Dynasty to build a mirage, and devoted all its manpower to searching for immortals at sea. The root of this lies here.

The ultimate secret of the Azure Dragon's Seven Mansions has never been in the Central Plains, but in the vast overseas lands.

No wonder the Yin-Yang School in the original work encouraged the Qin State to build a mirage. Even if they didn't get all seven constellations of the Azure Dragon, as long as they had some fragments of the map, they could still try to go to sea and see if they could find it.

At the same time, Xu Qing can also confirm that the rumor that Duke Zhuang of Zheng relied on the Azure Dragon Seven Mansions to make the state of Zheng strong is purely a fabrication by later generations and is just a historical coincidence. The strength of the state of Zheng has nothing to do with the Azure Dragon's secret treasure.

Now that the Qin fleet roams the world, crossing the seas is no longer a challenge. With a complete nautical chart in hand, Xu Qing would naturally not miss the opportunity.

He sailed alone, following the guidance of the nautical chart, and finally found an unnamed island hidden in the depths of the ocean.

The road to the island is not smooth. The surrounding sea and the island itself are covered with layers of ancient illusion arrays, full of hidden dangers and countless mysteries.

However, under the power of the fifth-tier divine sword to shatter illusions, all the illusionary restrictions were no match for it, and the layers of barriers crumbled completely.

Upon breaking through the formation and landing on the island, an ancient treasure, sealed for a thousand years, suddenly appears in the world.

This is an unparalleled treasure left behind by the Zhou Dynasty, sealed away by Jiang Ziya himself. But the treasure is secondary; the true core of this isolated island is a hidden danger to heaven and earth that has lurked for millennia.

It should be said that the hidden dangers lay dormant first, and then the treasures were sealed away.

Jiang Ziya knew this place was dangerous, but he did not completely eliminate the hidden dangers. Instead, he sealed the treasure here, which must have been a hidden expectation. Only a person with extraordinary talent who can gather the seven constellations of the Azure Dragon, uncover the secrets of the ages, and has the strength to suppress the hidden dangers can reach this place and settle this cause and effect.

Mozi feared the dangers of this place and was powerless to eradicate them, so he avoided it. But this hidden danger, which was enough to stump the founders of all schools of thought, was something Xu Qing could easily eliminate with a wave of his hand.