Chapter 1409
Bitter Fruit
Chapter 1409 Bitter Fruit
Yellow sand rolls in.
Terrifying fluctuations of supernatural power permeated the air, colors in the sky intertwined, various clouds drifted above Wuchuan, and flames from the shattered formation soared into the sky.
Li Ximing, carried by the radiance of Ji Mu in the sandstorm, traveled for a long time with the old master Sun. They stopped again before the three passes, gathered their various purple palaces, and remained stationed in the desert.
At first, after asking around, no one knew where Li Zhouwei had gone.
Now that the group was leaderless, Li Ximing was naturally pushed forward. This Master Zhaojing looked around at the various masters, both high and low, with great nervousness. But then he saw Kuang Hong take another step forward and whispered in private:
"The King of Wei is undertaking extraordinary actions, his ambitions likely lie in the west. We don't know how long he's been heading south; he may have already crossed the Duling Pass..."
Li Ximing certainly had his suspicions, but he couldn't discuss them with those around him. Because of his family background, he felt a special affinity for this Master Kuang Hong, so he tentatively asked:
"How is it now?"
"Only by conquering the three passes again can we restrain the cultivators and prevent them from returning to their aid. If we cannot stop them in time, we can take advantage of the situation to advance and capture several passes, so as to welcome the King of Wei's triumphant return!"
Li Ximing was overjoyed to see that he shared the same idea, and Kuang Hong said:
"Master Sun is the key to this place."
What he said was true. From the perspective of the people in front of the pass, the greatest reliance of the cultivators in the desert at this moment was actually Shan Yin. If they could get his full help, it would naturally be very effective. If not, it would only cause trouble for Western Shu and ruin the great situation.
Others might not know the situation, but this Sun Dazhen had just come from the Sword Immortal's side and knew what kind of existence was behind him. He was covered in cold sweat and didn't even have time to wipe it off. How could he dare not do his best!
So the remaining cultivators in the desert attacked Wuchuan again, and soon enough, they saw Tanshan Shentong fall!
All of you have some guesses, but you are worried about whether you can easily get around this. Now that the enemy's backyard is on fire, their morale is soaring, and they want to overcome this obstacle first.
But for a while, I couldn't take it down.
There was no other reason than that Qing Jifang, as the great general of Shu and commander of the entire eastern battlefield, did not care who was in trouble at Tanshan and held his ground.
Not only did he not return to provide reinforcements himself, but he also took advantage of the fact that Ping Yan was away and everyone in the area was following his lead, to order Wu Qian, the only one who sensed that something was wrong, not to return! He only ordered the cultivators and spirit treasures who were originally guarding Qi Ze to return to provide reinforcements and locate the White Qilin.
Actually, his decision wasn't too bad. The White Qilin's movements were still unclear, and Ranwu was still ahead of Chengdu. If he hastily abandoned the pass and retreated, he might lose a great opportunity to trap the White Qilin in Sichuan.
However, not long after the order was issued, before the cultivators of Qize had even set off, the aura of the second divine power of Ranwu Mountain falling had already filled the heavens and earth!
Looking at the talismans again, it seemed that the pass had been lost. This terrible news naturally enraged Qingji Fang. He had just returned to Wuchuan when he heard that earth-shattering voice:
"The world is in turmoil!"
Kim Il has betrayed us!
This news was like a bolt from the blue, far more terrifying than the presence of the white Qilin behind them. Even the slow-witted and arrogant Qing Jifang realized something was wrong at this moment!
He then left Wuchuan and retreated to the rear. Almost simultaneously, the great formation that guarded the east and prevented all other factions from advancing an inch, the Wuchuan Pass, finally shattered with a deafening roar!
This level uses the [Yongbian Four Realms Spirit Array], which was carefully enhanced by Chang Huai back then. He truly regarded this place as his foundation. Once this array is broken, the several streams of Ying Fire contained within it are instantly drained, and an endless sea of fire is brewing in the sky!
Now that things are going well, as long as Qingji Fang and the others hold their ground, the external supernatural beings will have to brave the sea of fire to advance, greatly slowing down their offensive.
Rolling flames enveloped the surroundings, almost obscuring the entire area. The True Person in the white-gold Daoist robe stood in the sky, silent. The terrifying fluctuations of spiritual energy caused the void to flicker, and the earth groaned.
The gazes of all the cultivators present were drawn away from the earth-shattering scene, their joyful smiles frozen on their faces. Qiao Wenliu reached out and caught the white raindrops falling from mid-air.
His shocked pupils reflected that star.
Xiuwu Star is weeping.
"Shu, Xiuwu, usurped the title of vassal state by surpassing our authority..."
A vast sound echoed across the sky. The old man in red stood frozen on the flames that separated heaven and earth, looking at the real person beside him. He opened his mouth, but didn't know what to say.
The emperor has passed away.
The sorrow of the stars in the sky permeated every corner illuminated by their light, known not only to the common people on the vast earth, but also to those with supernatural powers who were even more aware of the terrifying fluctuations in the west.
It seems... the country has fallen?
Dan Yin was more than surprised—even if he thought about it a hundred or a thousand times, he still wouldn't have imagined that the white qilin would turn around, circle around to Shu, and storm into the palace…
And so the mighty Emperor of Shu was killed.
That was the Emperor of Shu!
What is Changhuaishan doing?!
He felt neither the joy of winning the bet nor the delight of his entire clan being freed from constraints, but rather a deep, unyielding fear.
He doesn't understand.
This is more fatal than anything else. He knew that the two countries were vying for the Dao lineage, and that the True Qi was rising high, which he knew was because all the True Lords were hoping for their positions to be realized. But what about now?
It was as if a group of people were playing chess peacefully when suddenly a chess piece jumped out, grew arms and legs, and swiftly killed the person holding the chess piece next to them, while the person holding the chess piece remained as still as a quail.
He turned his head somewhat stiffly to look at the young man beside him and said:
"Master Shangguan... have you ever heard of this?"
But as he spoke, Shangguan Mi turned his head, his face illuminated by the light from the sky, his eyes filled with obvious confusion.
'Ask...me?'
Yes.
The King of Wei did say he would save the Shangguan family from their plight and bring back Mingyang Zhong's family from distant Shu—but he never said that the way to bring them back was to destroy Shu.
Even a man as resolute and courageous as him was speechless at this moment. He moved his lips and said:
"I'm afraid the Shu dynasty is already over."
The myriad true energies in the sky were still flowing, and the minds of everyone present seemed to be filled with mush. This was clearly an obvious thing, but when it landed in the air, it gave everyone a chilling surprise.
The Shu dynasty has fallen.
Li Ximing was completely stunned. He looked westward in disbelief at the soaring true qi and the weeping stars. For some reason, the scene of the palace on the lake from years ago suddenly appeared before his eyes, along with that cold voice that echoed in his ears:
'Let me endure for another ten or twenty years, and my supernatural powers will be perfected…'
'When Mingyang reaches full power, even if I wantonly open my mouth and bite him once or twice… I will definitely restrain myself! I'll crush his five fingers and ruin this whole situation!'
He swallowed hard, his face slightly flushed, and turned around with a radiant expression, accepting the shocked gazes of the crowd—even though few people were paying attention to him anymore.
After observing their expressions, the True Man Zhaojing turned around and noticed that a person was walking towards them in this fiery place.
This man was tall and imposing, his body surging with true fire. As he approached, a complex expression appeared in his eyes. He clasped his hands in a salute and said:
"Fellow Taoist Zhaojing!"
Li Ximing smiled and said:
"So it was Senior Tianque!"
Tian Que sighed and said:
"Congratulations."
Tian Que was a proud man. Back then, Dao Zi had asked him about the White Qilin. He thought he could control it for a while, but the current turbulent atmosphere of the Martial Star was undoubtedly a heavy blow, making him sober up immediately.
He certainly couldn't have imagined that Bai Qilin would kill the Shu Emperor, and honestly, Zhang Jiaoyi knew he wouldn't be a match for this emperor who possessed true qi, let alone kill him...
His gaze was complex, his lips moved but he couldn't speak. Finally, Zhang Duanyan, whose expression was equally complex, stepped forward and uttered four words:
"The majesty of the White Qilin is beyond the comprehension of us mere mortals!"
Not bad.
Over the years, Li Zhouwei has fought countless battles, always defeating the strong with the weak, and often surprising everyone. But in the eyes of these Golden Core disciples, it's all just a few words:
'After all, it's a white Qilin.'
Clearly, these worldly-wise, self-important Golden Core disciples, facing this white Qilin, felt a mixture of indignation and arrogance, as if their fate had been sealed.
Today, from the golden scroll that reads "Destroying the country and burning the temple is acceptable," to the fall of the Shu emperor, a reincarnation of the Golden Spirit, and the edict that Xiuwu mourned for "Shu is usurping the title," things have finally exceeded the understanding of these direct descendants, pushing Bai Qilin's achievements to an unbelievable level.
'In the past, it was merely a scheme to break through the Purple Mansion; today, it threatens to destroy the Golden Core! From any perspective, this is ultimately the culmination of a True Monarch's efforts, a grand scheme for the reincarnation of a Golden Nature.'
Everyone here is at the Purple Mansion level, and in this short time they have all recovered. Even if they are still shocked, they realize that the Shu Kingdom before them is a delicious feast. Shan Yin even stepped forward with a smile and bowed, saying:
"So it's Master Zhang! It's been so many years. We should have caught up, but Chengdu has already achieved a great victory, the usurper has been executed, and the bandits are in chaos and leaderless. This is the perfect opportunity..."
Tian Que laughed heartily and said:
"I've had this idea for a long time!"
He then patted his sleeve, and a bright, shiny stone bead flew out. It paused briefly in mid-air, and after several hours, the wind and fire subsided. Although it wasn't completely destroyed, it allowed his supernatural powers to continue.
Dan Yin took an extra step, and sure enough, he saw a streak of light flying from the south, descending like lightning. He rushed to the old master, knelt down, and wept, saying:
"Greetings, Ancestor!"
This is none other than the real Sun, Shen Sou!
Shen Sou, without any shame, hugged the old man's leg and cried. Shan Yin then raised his hand and slapped him until he vomited blood repeatedly. He cursed angrily for a while, and then tears streamed down his face. The grandfather and grandson, who had just been cursing each other as beasts, were now embracing and weeping.
Li Ximing went to check on Tian Que, only to find that the Great Master was also looking at him. Neither of them spoke, which allowed Shen Sou to receive a few more slaps—but Ji Mu was special after all; all that was seen was spitting blood, nothing else. Li Ximing waited for the procedure to finish, too lazy to bother with it anymore, and was more interested in listening to the sounds inside. He simply helped him up and sighed:
"It is truly rare to find someone who has abandoned darkness and embraced the light!"
Shen Sou, of course, understood what the other party needed most, and without hesitation, a hint of schadenfreude on his face, said:
"My lords! Chaos has broken out in Yiling!"
Li Ximing frowned, not asking Qing Jifang, but instead saying:
"Chaos? Where is Master Wu Gong?"
Shen Sou Dao:
"My lord, you are unaware that the Great Master has long since departed!"
When things changed in Shudu, the first to be frightened were the cultivators of Qize.
The leader, Master Wang, and Master Yu, one of the former Nine Clans, huddled within the great formation, filled with fear and unease. They could no longer discern how many people were around Bai Qilin. They dared not provoke Qilin, nor could they disregard the Qing family's order to return to their aid…
After much deliberation, the cultivators reached an agreement and, taking advantage of the spiritual treasure, led their people across the border to join the Chen family, bringing the entire eastern part of Qize and its three prefectures to surrender to the Song Dynasty!
Therefore, Wu Rong, who had already sensed that something was wrong, abandoned the general and rushed back to the capital. This was an important reason why the general was finally willing to make a sacrifice and retreat when news of the change in Jin Yi arrived.
Because even without Kim Il's intervention, they were already outmatched.
But Qingji retreated to Yiling and had no time to deal with these affairs in the south. At the moment when Wu Gan left and the Shu Emperor fell, he suddenly lost control of the immortals under his command!
Shen Sou Dao:
"At the moment the celestial phenomena changed, the two True Immortals from the Qiu family led their followers out and contacted the other True Immortals, claiming that their subordinates had received an imperial decree from the Shu Emperor and now wanted to ask the General to abandon the Three Passes and One Mountain and return to aid the West!"
Li Ximing pondered for a moment, then nodded and said:
"This is a good strategy."
The cultivators certainly had the will to submit, but Chang Huai's tyrannical power was too great, and their foundations in Shu were all in the Purple Palaces, so they were completely unaware of the changes happening in the rear...
'Since we're going to surrender anyway, we might as well retreat to the rear and go to Shu to see what's going on. If Changhuai still comes out to take charge, then we'll act according to the situation. If Bai Qilin has already taken control, then we'll just surrender to Bai Qilin…'
Shen Sou nodded repeatedly and said:
"But General... that drugged man, he absolutely disagrees! He said..."
Tian Que laughed and said:
"what did he say?"
Shen Sou Dao:
“He said that Shu was the foundation of the Qing family, and the emperor of Shu was the reincarnation of his father, Qing Jifang. Now that the emperor has fallen, he…he…naturally should be the master. He asked all the cultivators to return to Qionglai with him and report to the immortal mountain.”
Li Ximing's expression turned strange, and he said:
"Qionglai? Changhuai Mountain?"
Shen Sou nodded, not daring to say more, only saying:
"After the two sides had been locked in a standoff for the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, I saw through this villain's true colors. I knew he was a wicked and treacherous person who had taken advantage of the chaos to escape and circle around from the south to seek refuge with you, sir..."
Li Ximing immediately frowned, fearing that this guy would escape. He turned to look at Tian Que, only to see him shake his head and smile, saying:
“There’s no need for you to worry. Qing Tang is finished. Qing Ji is so guilty that he doesn’t know where to go—and he can’t go.”
Tian Que raised his head, his smile deepening:
"Qingtang is known for his stinginess. Even when facing his own son, he is indifferent. Lingbao will not even give him a second glance. This Yaoshengzi thinks he is following in his father's footsteps and that one day he will be in his hands to be examined closely."
"But what he gets his hands on may not be a treasure, but also cause and effect."
He strode forward, his voice booming like thunder, and said:
"Celebrate Jifang!"
The sound, amplified by supernatural powers, spread far and wide, rolling and surging. The Great Immortal stood smiling and said:
"Qing Jifang! It's time for you to take a closer look!"