If you don't give up, I'd like to be your adoptive father.

Chapter 1082 The Change of the First Emperor
No matter how disgusted Guan Zhenren and Yang Li Daotong were, they still obeyed Yu Taishi's orders.

Yang Li, in his guise as the Great Qin Celestial Master, traveled to the underworld with fifty copies of Grand Master Yu's petition, visiting Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, the Ten Kings of Hell, and other underworld deities he encountered along the way.

Yes, there were fifty petitions in total!

Xiaoyu personally wrote fifty copies, not only for Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva and the Ten Kings of Hell, since there are many big shots in the underworld, and the above eleven are just the ones that are on the surface.

For example, there's the old woman Tai who delivers Meng Po's soup at the Bridge of Helplessness.

For example, the leaders of Ox-Head and Horse-Face, Black and White Impermanence, and the judges of each palace.

If Yang Li hadn't intervened, urging her to save face for the Qin Dynasty, the Imperial Observatory, and the various Celestial Masters, Xiao Yu would have loved to write five hundred petitions, so he could use them as her calling cards and give one to every ghost or deity she encountered.

Well, the reason why sending a petition is related to the dignity of the Qin Dynasty's Celestial Masters is because the content of this petition is even more obsequious than the last one.

Grand Tutor Yu also had something to say: "My reputation has been ruined by the gods of the Five Sacred Mountains and Four Rivers."

We must now show even greater sincerity and genuine care, otherwise how will others believe us? How will they be moved?
As for the saying "honeyed words conceal a treacherous heart," that's complete nonsense!
Taishan Stone Guardian is famous throughout the Three Realms.

If the chaos and evil spirits of the Nine Provinces are not diverted to Mount Tai and instead 'Shi Gandang' is forced to bear the brunt, can other places withstand it?

This is a selfless public matter.

The hatred that the Huashan Divine Palace harbored towards me was even more inexplicable.

I've never been to the Huashan Divine Palace, nor have I ever met the Golden Heavenly King. How did I provoke them?

Even if I am truly two-faced, I must have some self-interest to gain. Otherwise, what's the point of ruining my reputation?
Ultimately, it's because there are too many gods who hate me.

They manipulated public opinion within the Taoist and supernatural cults of China, spreading rumors and deliberately slandering me.

It's unclear whether Yang Li was persuaded or not, but he obediently followed orders and went to the underworld with fifty petitions and the command that "he is not allowed to return until all the petitions have been delivered."

Guan Zhenren also gave a detailed account of the various disasters that the Weather Bureau had investigated in recent months.

Xiao Yu immediately left Xianyang and headed to the Qinling Ancestral Dragon Land, preparing to endure another hardship in the Taishan Underworld.

"Huh, it's been a few months since I last saw it. How come the Qinling Ancestral Dragon hasn't weakened at all, but instead seems a bit stronger? Hmm, it's not that the Ancestral Dragon is stronger, the Ancestral Dragon is dead, it can't be stronger."

It's the earth's energy from the Qinling Mountains, much richer and more abundant, and it even has some dragon energy from other people's land. Uh, isn't this Han Xin's great Azure Dragon?
How did the dragon energy that the Great Azure Dragon dissipated end up in the Qinling Mountains?

Upon entering the Qinling Mountains, before his consciousness had even entered the corpse of the Ancestral Dragon, Xiao Yu sensed the enormous changes within the Qinling Mountains' geological veins.

It's not a tiny, minor change; the changes in the Qinling Mountains' geological veins are enormous and very obvious.

At first glance, even the ancestral dragon of the Ying clan looked a bit fatter.

Xiaoyu was startled.

Can a dead corpse gain weight?

Upon closer inspection, the main difference is that the earth's energy is more abundant and active.

Originally, after the death of the First Emperor, the Qinling Mountains remained majestic and lush, exuding an air of stagnation and death. Now, however, the two poles have reversed, transforming from a lifeless landscape into one teeming with life and vitality.

Upon closer inspection of the Ancestral Dragon's corpse, it was indeed noticeably fatter, with its total dragon energy increasing by about 5%. This increase was quite significant and exaggerated.

After all, the First Emperor was already dead.

Even when the First Dragon was alive, the sudden surge of dragon energy within a few months, increasing by 5%, was still terrifying.

"Grand Tutor Yu, you're finally back!"

Xiao Yu was still on the mountaintop, sensing the changes in the dragon vein beneath his feet, when suddenly a plume of black smoke rose from the ground beside him, and the City God Ying Qian, dressed in a magnificent black robe, emerged from underground.

He still wore the bronze mask, covering the upper half of his face (his nose had been cut off by Shang Yang), but the remaining half of his face was filled with a joy that ten ordinary faces couldn't contain.

"Grand Tutor, did you need something from me?" Xiao Yu asked.

"Upon hearing the news of your return to Xianyang, I immediately came looking for you. Not only do I want to see you, but all the former kings of Qin in the Blessed Land also wish to see you! Grand Tutor Yu, are you free at the moment? I will take you to see the former kings," Ying Qian said.

Xiao Yu exclaimed in surprise, "All the former kings have been waiting for me? I just returned. They've been waiting all this time?"

Ying Qian said, "Grand Tutor Yu just returned and came to investigate the Qinling Dragon Vein. He must have discovered the Ancestral Dragon's transformation long ago, right?"

Xiao Yu spoke frankly, saying, "I had expected the Qinling Mountains to change, but the changes are so significant that they are somewhat unexpected."

This trip isn't to inspect the earth's veins.

Guan Zhenren has determined that earthquakes may occur in Liaodong Commandery in the Northeast, Xiang Commandery in the Southwest, and Nanzheng in Hanzhong within the next two months.

For the sake of the people's livelihood, I plan to once again manipulate the Ancestral Dragon to channel the chaotic evil energy in the earth's veins to Mount Tai, giving the Eastern Peak Emperor a... cough cough, what I mean is, for the sake of the people of China, let the Eastern Peak Emperor suffer a bit; I will bear the blame."

Ying Qian's old face, hidden behind the bronze mask, was somewhat distorted: "Grand Tutor Yu, you've just returned! Have you had a cup of hot tea? Would you like to sit down and rest for a moment?"

Upon returning, you immediately want to manipulate the earth's veins and transfer the seismic power of the three regions to Mount Tai. Do you know that Mount Tai experienced an earthquake two months ago?
Oh, you were the one who caused that earthquake, you must know that.

"Can't we unleash the chaotic energy in the desolate desert?" Ying Qian asked.

Xiaoyu shook her head and said, "The damage that earthquakes cause to ordinary people on the ground is only one of the reasons why earthquakes are considered natural disasters."

Earthquakes can tear apart the earth's veins and damage the continental skeleton, posing a more serious and dangerous threat than death.

The desert is uninhabited, lacking the nourishment of human life, and its soil is fragile.

Mount Tai is the highest peak in China, as solid as the spine of the great god Pangu.

Do you think a martial artist should use their spine to block an enemy's attack, or their soft abdomen to withstand it?

The same injury might leave the spine unscathed, but could leave a large hole in the abdomen.

If a cataclysmic earthquake were to occur, I would suffer, and the Qin Dynasty would also be doomed.

Only a third of what she said made sense; the rest was all fallacy.

In desolate and uninhabited areas, there are not only tidal flats and deserts with thin soil veins, but also towering mountains, which are also hard "bones".

However, the Five Sacred Mountains are the core nodes of the mountain ranges and ley lines of the Nine Provinces. The process of guiding the chaotic evil spirits in the ley lines of the Nine Provinces into Mount Tai is simpler and the result is more secure: the Great Emperor of the Eastern Peak will definitely be able to withstand it!

Ying Qian believed her nonsense and sighed, "For the sake of the people of China, we can only trouble the Great Emperor of the Eastern Peak."

Then he added, “Guiding the chaotic energy of the earth’s veins shouldn’t be rushed, right? Why don’t we go see the former kings first?”

Xiao Yu said, "Do we really have to see all the former kings? Can we choose a representative? Yang Li Daoist from the Earth Emperor Palace has already sent my petition to the underworld. I still have to handle Empress Dowager Zhao's funeral arrangements."

Upon hearing the words "Empress Dowager Zhao," Ying Qian made no attempt to hide his disgust, saying, "If it's for that vile woman, there's even less need to rush."

The late kings would not normally trouble Grand Tutor Yu.

If there are truly important matters to discuss, there is no need to gather together and wait to meet with Grand Tutor Yu.

This time it just happened to be a coincidence.

Zhao Ji is dead; a new emperor should be enthroned.

The former kings had gathered to discuss the election of a new emperor and the events of Xianyang. Upon hearing of Grand Tutor Yu's return, they hastily extended their invitation.

Alas, even when Qin Shi Huang unified the six kingdoms, they still did not see each other, kings did not see each other, sons did not see each other, and brothers did not see each other.

"Now that the Qin Dynasty is on the verge of collapse, they have only gathered twice; today is the second time."

Xiaoyu thought about it.

How to deal with the Empress Dowager? Perhaps we could listen to the opinions of the former King Ying?

"Grand Tutor, lead the way and take me to pay my respects to the princes."

Ying Qian led her into the Ghost Path, and with a whistle, a carriage came from afar.

Eight horses of different colors were pulling a magnificent carriage.

Ying Qian invited Xiao Yu into the carriage, and drove it himself. In the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, they arrived at the place where Meng Qi had been received last time, the Blessed Land of King Mu of Yongcheng.

This "Gathering of the Former Kings of Qin" was much smaller in scale.

Many of the late king's close advisors did not come this time.

Among the invited former kings of the Ying clan, there were fewer of those who were not so wise and powerful.

King Mu probably felt that their arrival was useless.

Of course, if it's for the purpose of meeting Grand Tutor Yu, the former King Ying of the Daoist temple would certainly be a welcome addition.

Whether they were wise and powerful or not, they all held a portion of power and fortune.

If Xiaoyu were to "request a fiefdom" at the Temple of Earth, he would have to address all the rulers of the Qin Dynasty, offering sacrifices, making promises, and requesting fiefdoms from them.

"I, Ying Renhao, respectfully welcome Grand Tutor Yu!"

After Xiaoyu alighted from the carriage, King Mu of Qin, dressed in a wide-sleeved imperial robe, immediately stepped forward to pay his respects.

A group of Qin kings around and behind him bowed down.

Xiao Yu was startled and quickly bowed in return, saying, "Your Majesties, your gifts are too heavy for me to bear!"

Mi Yue smiled and said, "Even if it's just for the change of the Qinling Dragon Vein, Grand Tutor Yu can bear it!"

King Wu, Ying Dang, laughed loudly: "Grand Tutor Yu helped my Great Qin revive the dragon vein, what is this little ceremony worth?"

King Mu frowned and said, "Grand Tutor Yu is visiting this blessed land for the first time, and it's also the first time he's met you all. Please state your names first!"

The kings were taken aback for a moment, then took turns registering.

Xiaoyu returned the greetings one by one.

After a while of commotion, the former kings escorted Grand Tutor Yu into the magnificent palace.

At King Mu's request, Xiao Yu was given the seat of honor.

"What King Wu just said about the dragon vein being resurrected is a mistake. The Ancestral Dragon is dead and cannot be resurrected," she said truthfully.

Ying Dang's smile lessened slightly, but didn't disappear completely. He said, "The dragon energy has clearly increased a lot. Even if it hasn't revived yet, isn't this a sign of revival?"

Xiao Yu pondered for a moment and said, "All the former kings witnessed firsthand how the Great Qin Dynasty, under the leadership of Emperor Renhuang, unified the six kingdoms one by one. During that process, how did the dragon veins of the Great Qin Dynasty change?"

Ying Dang pondered for a moment, then his expression changed slightly, and he said, "In the past, every time my Great Qin destroyed a country, the Qinling dragon vein would grow larger."

The recent changes in the Qinling Mountains' dragon vein seem somewhat similar to those of years ago.

Xiao Yu then asked, "Do any of you kings have any guesses about the reasons for the changes in the Qinling dragon veins?"

King Mu nodded and said, "There are many speculations, but the only thing that is certain is that the changes in the Qinling Mountains' ley lines are related to you, Grand Tutor Yu, and to your trip to the southeast. Our Ying clan can sense it all."

There was no doubt in Old Wang's eyes, only excitement, admiration, and gratitude.

Xiao Yu said, "I have two reasons for going to the southeast: first, to investigate intelligence on various rebellions; and second, to thoroughly examine the ley lines of the Nine Provinces."

She first explained in detail to the kings her theory that "the First Dragon is not the dragon vein of the world, but the stepmother of the dragon veins and earth veins of the world, and a stepmother should love her children."

She gave a presentation on this theory at the Imperial Observatory earlier this year.

Several months later, having experienced it firsthand, she gained a deeper understanding and even wrote a book called "The Classic of the Old Mother of Qiushan" based on her own insights. Now, when she reiterates this theory, it is even more profound yet simple, and concise.

These few words were enough to enlighten the former kings.

Ying Qian said, "The power of the Qinling Mountains' earth veins has become more active and abundant because Master Yu has cleared the southeast earth veins."

According to the theory that "the ancestral dragon is not a dragon vein", the Qinling Mountains' geological veins are like the dantian in a martial artist's body.

The veins of the other provinces and prefectures in Kyushu are like the eight extraordinary meridians of a martial artist.

Now that Master Yu has opened up the meridians in the southeast region, his internal energy is flowing freely within his body, and his dantian qi is more active and abundant.

Am I right in understanding this?

"Mostly correct. The Ancestral Dragon is the dantian, which is also the mind."

Xiaoyu nodded slightly and said, "If we consider the entire land of Kyushu as a martial artist, the earth's veins are like the meridians through which internal energy flows."

The dragon veins of each of the hidden dragons are the innate supernatural abilities of martial artists, supernatural abilities related to bodily organs.

For example, my sword-like bones, and my ability to see and hear from afar.

The Qinling Dragon Vein, as the Qi Sea and Dantian, does not fundamentally conflict with these supernatural abilities in the body.

It wasn't because of the presence of the Hidden Dragon's dragon vein that the Ancestral Dragon died.

Only when the First Dragon dies can the Hidden Dragon be born.

If the Qin Dynasty itself does not succumb to the Mandate of Heaven, then there will be no other Mandate of Heaven.

"Alas, if Master Yu had been fifty years older and had come to Xianyang fifty years earlier, the situation in our Great Qin would certainly be very different now," King Xiao of Qin lamented.

He had previously heard of the theory that "the ancestral dragon is not a dragon vein," and that the Great Qin Celestial Master should not excavate dragon veins, but rather protect the hidden dragon veins.

He felt very uncomfortable at that time, thinking that Grand Tutor Yu was sitting crookedly.

Now that he could truly feel the changes in the Qinling Mountains' geological formations, he could only marvel at how broad-minded, magnanimous, and far ahead of his time Grand Tutor Yu was.

Only those who have the world in their hearts can govern the world well; he has always understood this principle.

Understanding something doesn't necessarily mean you can do it.

He felt it even more deeply today.

(End of this chapter)