บท 421: Chapter 421: Was I Wrong?The Jin Dynasty, Wu City.
The massive moon had moved to the western sky. In the southern part of the city, a contingent of troops appeared faintly on the horizon.
A scout flew into the city and knelt before a general on the city wall.
"Reporting to the General, a large contingent has been spotted south of the city," the scout reported.
"Who are they?" the general asked.
"Not sure, but their banner bears the character 'Zhong' (钟)," the scout replied.
Underground Chamber
In the underground chamber, Zhong Shan stood rigidly, surrounded by flashing lightning, as if breaking through or cultivating. Opposite him, the Jin Emperor looked utterly defeated, devoid of life. Mr. Corpse, observing, could tell the Jin Emperor was completely dead.
Mr. Corpse had already collected the 'Ginseng Fruit,' and the tree that bore the fruit withered after it was picked. Carefully placing the 'Ginseng Fruit' in a transparent bottle, he held it securely.
Mr. Corpse also gathered all the soul stones and even searched the Jin Emperor's body for valuables.
As the lightning around Zhong Shan dissipated, he murmured to himself, "Was I wrong?" He frowned deeply, lost in thought.
"Your Majesty, are you alright?" Mr. Corpse called out to Zhong Shan.
Zhong Shan looked at Mr. Corpse, his confusion slowly fading.
"I'm fine," Zhong Shan replied, shaking his head.
"Your Majesty, that was the mental world only those at the Emperor Realm can control. How did you defeat him?" Mr. Corpse asked, astonished.
Zhong Shan gave Mr. Corpse a peculiar look. How could he explain it? The Jin Emperor's mental world was indeed powerful, incredibly so. In that world, he was in complete control, and his core consciousness was embodied by a volcano, brimming with boundless fiery energy.
Unfortunately for him, he encountered Zhong Shan, who was an anomaly. The mental world might be strong, but Zhong Shan's Eight Extremes Heavenly Tail (Ba Ji Tian Wei) could exit his body. The massive lava pit was entirely consumed by the Eight Extremes Heavenly Tail, leaving the Jin Emperor stupefied.
Consuming the lava was just the start; the Eight Extremes Heavenly Tail continued to 'gnaw' away at the Jin Emperor's mental world, ultimately devouring the Jin Emperor's primordial spirit.
A mental world showdown? The Eight Extremes Heavenly Tail was the ultimate counter. The immense energy absorbed allowed Zhong Shan to advance another level, reaching the sixth stage of the Nascent Soul phase.
However, Zhong Shan now harbored doubts about his cultivation.
In the Jin Emperor's mental world, he could only perform two actions: mental attacks and using the Eight Extremes Heavenly Tail. He couldn't cast any spells or techniques; it was as if he was bound by the rules of another world.
Why was this the case? Zhong Shan knew it was because he was in the Jin Emperor's mental world, but did that mean he was entirely powerless there? While it would be acceptable if he was defenseless, the Eight Extremes Heavenly Tail could disregard all rules, reigning supreme even in another's mental world. So why couldn't he?
Was he wrong? Where did he err? No, his cultivation had a flaw.
Zhong Shan pondered deeply, signaling Mr. Corpse to stay silent.
With a grave expression, Zhong Shan realized that if he didn't resolve this, it would become a significant flaw in his future cultivation.
He couldn't use the Red Luan Heavenly Sutra either.
Yes, the Red Luan Heavenly Sutra. Zhong Shan's eyes narrowed.
Wu City
Back in Wu City, the scout who had reported to the general continued to observe the approaching troops with the "Zhong" banner, wondering what their presence would mean for the unfolding events in the city. The general, meanwhile, prepared his forces, unsure of whether this new group would be friend or foe. The fate of the Jin Dynasty hung in the balance, its future uncertain amidst the growing turmoil.
Zhong Shan's Revelation
Zhong Shan finally realized what was wrong. The Red Luan Heavenly Sutra, the sixth stage, the beginning of breaking illusions, was the key. It allowed him to see the laws of heaven and earth.
Seeing these laws was immensely powerful. Truly, only those at the Emperor Realm or higher could see them so clearly, but Zhong Shan could see them even at the Golden Core stage.
Was it a blessing? Or a curse?
A blessing, because it enabled Zhong Shan to create techniques like "Heaven's Law: Wind Shatter," a powerful sword technique that had saved him multiple times.
However, it was also a curse, leading him to rely heavily on the Red Luan Heavenly Sutra. This dependence allowed him to skip over the foundational steps of cultivation. Once he couldn't see these laws anymore, he would be worse than useless. Even worse, seeing these laws made him abandon the cultivation path he had set for himself.
Realizing this, Zhong Shan felt a wave of fear.
No, from now on, he decided, unless it was a matter of life and death, he would not use the "beginning of breaking illusions." He needed to cultivate according to the foundational methods he had initially chosen.
Understanding this, Zhong Shan took a deep breath, his mind becoming clear again.
Looking at the lifeless body of the Jin Emperor, Zhong Shan felt a mix of anger and gratitude—anger for the harm done to Bei Qingsi, and gratitude for the realization it had brought him.
With a cold laugh, Zhong Shan approached the corpse, placed his hand on the Jin Emperor's face, and pushed.
The Jin Emperor's body fell backward with a thud, announcing Zhong Shan's complete victory.
The Awakening
As Zhong Shan's hand moved, all the talismanic shadows vanished. Everyone suddenly regained their senses, still trapped in the memory of the Jin Emperor's oppressive force. The sudden release from the pressure left them in shock.
Then they saw an unbelievable sight.
The once-dominant Jin Emperor lay defeated, and it was Zhong Shuai, who appeared to humiliate him by pressing his hand against the Emperor's face and pushing him down.
"Clang," the Jin Emperor's body hit the ground.
Everyone's jaws dropped in disbelief.
The previously timid Zhong Shuai had defeated the Emperor, whose power had reached the Emperor Realm?
Zhong Shan turned and saw everyone's stunned faces.
Before the Battle
Zhong Shan and the Jin Emperor had battled in the mental world for an hour. Meanwhile, outside the Jin Dynasty, an army of 800,000, commanded by Shui Wuhen, charged towards Wu City. This was the message Zhong Shan had sent out through the Da Rong Merchant Guild during his earlier stroll.
"Kill!"
The battle cries filled the air, and Wu City descended into chaos.
"Your Majesty," many soldiers rushed to the palace, seeking the Emperor's command.
Sekong emerged.
"Why are you panicking? What's happening?" Sekong scolded.
"We have an urgent military situation to report to His Majesty," the general said.
"His Majesty is in seclusion. Here is his tiger tally; I have full authority to act on his behalf," Sekong responded immediately.
The general, holding the tiger tally, nodded. "Yes, sir," he said, knowing the tiger tally granted full authority.
"Prepare the defenses and hold the city at all costs," Sekong commanded, trying to maintain order amid the growing chaos.
Back in the Underground Chamber
In the underground chamber, the battle between Zhong Shan and the Jin Emperor had concluded. Mr. Corpse had secured the Ginseng Fruit and other treasures, and now Zhong Shan stood victorious, having learned a crucial lesson about his cultivation.
The Longevity Realm members and others began to stir, realizing the magnitude of what had transpired. The seemingly meek Zhong Shuai had defeated the mighty Jin Emperor, shattering their perceptions and leaving them in awe.
As order began to restore, the 800,000-strong army approached the city, their intentions clear. The battle for Wu City and the fate of the Jin Dynasty hung in the balance, with Zhong Shan's unexpected triumph serving as a beacon of hope amidst the turmoil.
The crowd gazed at the tiger tally in Sekong's hand.
"Master Sekong, it's not good. There are 800,000 troops outside the city, and there are people from the Longevity Realm mixed in among them. We..." The general expressed his concern.
"Take me to see," Sekong said.
"Hmm." The crowd immediately led Sekong to the south of the city.
On the southern city wall, Sekong observed that the troops of the Great Jin Dynasty were engaged in a bloody battle with the external forces. The enemy soldiers were exceptionally fierce. What kind of army was this? Looking around, most of the fallen soldiers belonged to the Great Jin Dynasty.
A large command flag bore a prominent character "Zhong."
Many soldiers, unable to withstand the enemy, activated their divine seals, increasing their strength. However, some strange-looking individuals appeared among them.
"Longevity Realm?" Sekong squinted his eyes.
"Master Sekong, is His Majesty still in seclusion?" a commander stepped forward.
"General Ma, what is the situation with the opposing army? Zhong? Is there a commander with the surname Zhong in the nearby dynasties?" Sekong frowned.
"No, it shouldn't be. Master Sekong, this troop doesn't belong to any nearby dynasty. I have a suspicion. If it's really that person, we're in big trouble," General Ma said with a bitter expression.
"Oh?" Sekong asked in confusion.
"In the eastern Divine Land, the Da Luo Heavenly Dynasty has recently risen to prominence with a super general who single-handedly overthrew two great dynasties. He is currently on a diplomatic mission to the Da Li Heavenly Dynasty and might be passing through this area," General Ma explained.
"Oh? What's his name?" Sekong frowned.
"His name is Zhong Shan!" General Ma said.
The moment General Ma finished speaking, Sekong's pupils contracted. "What did you say? Zhong Shan?"
"Yes! But it might not necessarily be him. As long as His Majesty comes out of seclusion, we can surely repel these invaders," General Ma said with a hint of confusion.
At that moment, Sekong suddenly remembered a silhouette, the one he had sent into the imperial palace, the one following Elder Zhao. It was him, Zhong Shan!
Recalling the incredibly sinister Zhong Shan, Sekong felt a chill down his spine. He had known Zhong Shan was sinister from the beginning. Even his master had only approved of Zhong Shan. It turned out to be true; later, when they sent people to check, they found his master was truly dead.
Looking towards the direction of the imperial palace, Sekong immediately took out the tiger tally. "General Ma, you have always commanded the three armies of the Great Jin Dynasty. Now I hand over the tiger tally to you. Protect Wu City with all your might."
"Uh, yes!" General Ma was slightly taken aback as he accepted the tiger tally.
After handing over the tiger tally, Sekong immediately turned and left, leaving General Ma with a bewildered expression. Wasn't this Master Sekong too cowardly?
Sekong quietly flew away. After leaving Wu City, he looked in its direction, took a deep breath, and said, "Uncle Master, I'm sorry. This nephew needs to stay alive to report to our master!"
In the sky above the
Great Jin Dynasty, all the energy was used to nurture the 'Ginseng Fruit'. The sky was filled with a blood-red light, and the intense crimson glow attracted thunderclouds, causing a great commotion. This disturbance alarmed the sects throughout the Great Jin Dynasty.
Numerous powerful sect members flew towards Wu City.
Among them was a group of thirty distinguished individuals, all dressed in splendid attire. The leader, a handsome man with a noble aura, exuded a sinister charm that was even more eerie than that of the Mysterious Immortal Zhong Shan had once manipulated into battling Mr. Corpse.
Seeing the sky lit up with red light and thunderbolts, the man let out a peculiar smile.
"Let's go!" he commanded.
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