The Word of Heaven

Chapter 342 Imperial Star
Night began to fall, and only a few rays of the sun's afterglow remained on the horizon.

The river in the center of the oasis continued to flow forward, as if trying to push away the faint, lingering twilight on its surface, pushing it into the desolate, ancient tomb of the wasteland.

At that time, the stars will appear, and the world will once again be bathed in new light.

Zhao Qi looked at Gu Zhuo and said, "You shouldn't have come."

This is, of course, a repetition of something he said not long ago, but the meaning behind it is ultimately different.

"This proves that you are not as powerful as I imagined."

Across the river, Zhao Qi's voice mingled with the sound of the water, conveying a sense of sadness.

He earnestly asked, "But I still don't understand why you got caught up in this situation?"

Gu Zhuo said gently, "Why did I go to Cangzhou in the first place?"

“I understand your reasoning. There are always some things in this world that must be done, just like when you went to Cangzhou, just like when I promised to go to Weiyang Palace.”

Zhao Qi looked at him, shook his head and said, "But tonight is different, because you are unprepared, because the wasteland is the only place in the world where you cannot prepare in advance... These are the exact words from that letter."

Pei Jingge looked at Gu Zhuo.

Gu Zhuo smiled and nodded.

He tilted his head slightly back, put his hands behind his back, and met the night sky.

The will that the wild people believed in, called the will of the heavens, seemed completely unaware of the conversation taking place in this oasis, and at this moment showed no sign of making a move or sending down any malice.

The night breeze remained refreshing, gently caressing the hair and lifting the hem of clothing, its gentle touches soft and tender.

Everything is just as spring should be.

The heavens could not find even the slightest crack.

Pei Jingge asked, "How confident are you?"

Gu Zhuo turned his head, smiled, and asked, "Did you survive?"

Pei Jingge raised an eyebrow and said, "We won."

"It's hard."

Gu Zhuo honestly said, "This time, there really isn't much confidence to speak of."

Normally, such a statement would have made Pei Jinge feel dissatisfied, as she has always disliked such self-deprecating remarks.

However, she was not angry today. There was no trace of disappointment or frustration in her eyes, only calmness and pride.

She said to Zhao Qi, "You should know that I was also present at Yunmengze that year, but unfortunately, I didn't like the outcome."

Zhao Qi said, "That's why I'm standing here."

Pei Jingge asked, "Then who will kill him?"

Zhao Qi said, "That's not something I care about."

Pei Jingge said, "Then why are you standing here?"

Zhao Qi said, "A hundred years from now, the two strongest clashes, who could resist taking a second look?"

Pei Jingge said, "This is a very disappointing statement. I thought you always believed that you were unparalleled in the world, but it turns out you are just a vulgar person who likes excitement."

Despite such mockery, Zhao Qi remained unfazed and said, "Everyone is unique, and I have never doubted that. I am just doing what I want to do."

"So Gu Zhuo is right."

Pei Jingge proudly declared, "I'm going to be better than you."

Zhao Qi frowned and asked, "Why?"

No matter how nonchalant he appeared, he still had to admit that he was affected by Gu Zhuo's first words.

Having been on par with Pei Jinge for decades and widely regarded as superior, he held an undisputed advantage in the battle during the Weiyang Palace Incident and reached the Ascension Realm before Pei Jinge. He had every reason to believe that he was the more remarkable one, and therefore had no reason to accept the assessment that he was inferior to Pei Jinge.

"why?"

Pei Jingge's gaze fell on Zhao Qi, and she said matter-of-factly, "Just because I'm standing here today, because I don't like what happened in Yunmengze back then, I'm going to use the knife in my hand to change the ending and lead him out to fight my way out."

Zhao Qi thought about the extremely profound realm that the White Emperor had demonstrated to him that day, and after a long silence, asked, "But can you do it?"

Pei Jingge said, "I will never think about this question. Whether it can be done or not is a conclusion after the task is completed. But you never thought about doing this from the beginning. Of course, you are not as good as me."

Her tone was exceptionally calm yet powerful, conveying an unquestionable authority.

Anyone listening would think she was explaining the principle of water flowing downwards, rather than discussing the difference in quality between the two.

After a moment of silence, Zhao Qi laughed and said, "Momentum is important, but it's not the key to victory."

"Come and defeat me..."

He looked into Pei Jingge's eyes, his smile vanished abruptly, and he said in a deep voice, "Prove that your idea can be realized."

……

……

On Baidi Mountain.

The moonlight was sparse under the shade of the chestnut trees.

Bai Langxing could not hide his tension and anxiety. His breathing was sometimes rapid and sometimes absent, never calming down for a moment. He was clearly immersed in some intense emotion.

At one point, he finally couldn't help but look up at his father standing under the chestnut tree and asked in a hoarse voice, "I still don't understand."

As soon as he finished speaking, Bai Langxing realized that he had forgotten to say the words "Father Emperor," which was disrespectful.

For some reason, this gave him peace and allowed him to reflect on the words he had heard moments earlier.

Then Bai Langxing fell into an even longer silence, unable to understand what he couldn't understand.

Yes, the Qin Dynasty had countless reasons to set a trap to kill Gu Zhuo.

Whether it's the identity of the Demon Lord, the threat posed by his existence, the death of the eunuch leader, or even the most basic reasons based on one's stance, there are reasons for doing so.

These are all facts.

However, it is also true that Bai Langxing had not thought about this matter at all until he learned about it tonight.

He never intended to kill Gu Zhuo, which is why he couldn't understand why his father used such drastic measures, and he couldn't understand why he couldn't understand this decision.

"Of course it's not because you have a sense of awe."

His Majesty the Emperor's voice slowly rang out: "It's because you and Gu Zhuo have truly spent time together, and you believe from the depths of your soul that he is harmless to this world."

Bai Langxing fell silent, lost in thought.

His Majesty the Emperor stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze fixed on the chestnut leaves, and said calmly, "Since he is harmless, why go to such great lengths to try and kill him? Besides, this is a scheme that is unlikely to succeed."

Bai Langxing came to his senses and looked at his father with complicated emotions.

"If we consider this as a business deal, it's certainly not worthwhile; it's almost certain to result in a loss."

His Majesty's tone was indifferent, much like the slightly chilly wind tonight.

Bai Langxing said, "But this isn't a business deal, is it?"

"of course."

His Majesty the Emperor did not turn around and said, "I only wanted to kill him, that's all."

Bai Langxing was silent for a while before saying, "I thought you were going to tell me that there are always things in this world that are more important than profit, even more important than life and death, so you have to kill him."

As the voice faded, His Majesty the Emperor turned around, his gaze falling into Bai Langxing's eyes.

"This is a simple truth that needs no explanation. It is the mindset of every truly strong person throughout history. I do not say it because I do not want to say it. I believe that you will understand this truth one day."

He said, "If you cannot hold this view, even if you sit on the throne of Qin in the future, you will still not be able to gain the true respect of people like Zhao Qipei and Jinge."

"Because from the day the path of cultivation was discovered, the most fundamental logic of this world has never truly changed; it has always followed the will of the strong."

"The reason for the difference is simply that there is no absolute strong one. Most of the time, it is several powerful wills fighting against each other, which makes people mistakenly believe that the world is constantly changing, rather than standing still."

His Majesty the Emperor did not hold back his words, speaking casually as if it were just a normal chat.

Bai Langxing didn't know what to say.

He can understand the principles, but how can the affairs of the world be summarized by these principles?

Ultimately, the topic returns to the very beginning and the most important point.

"Father, what are your chances of winning?" "I have never truly fought him before, there is no precedent to follow, how can I know?"

"A hundred years ago?"

"Gu Zhuo's defeat at Xuandu was not a victory for me alone."

"And this time it's just you and him?"

Bai Langxing's words were perfectly logical, yet the White Emperor did not offer his own answer.

His temples were already slightly gray as he stood under the shade of a chestnut tree, closed his eyes again, and let his thoughts drift far away.

……

……

Above Xuandu.

Inside the Lonely Peak Daoist Temple, Yu Sheng opened her eyes.

She got up and walked outside, letting the moonlight fall on her black hair and shoulders, her beauty beyond compare.

Her gaze did not fall on the Ancestral Hall of the Heavenly Dao Sect, even though there was a blazing Yin energy rapidly gestating within, taking the step towards rebirth.

She gazed silently at the northern sky, her eyes reflecting countless tiny shooting stars streaking across the heavens and earth—real traces of existence, ripples brought about by destiny's fishing.

Before long, the meteors converged and shone with an extremely bright light in her mind.

She was aware of the changes taking place in a distant place.

Yu Sheng lowered her eyelids slightly, concealing all her emotions.

Finally, she headed towards the Heavenly Dao Sect and stepped into the main hall.

Lin Qianshui, belatedly realizing what was happening, arrived outside the hall and, looking at the dimly lit temple where not a single ray of light could be seen, heard an extremely cold statement.

"Do you want your entire family wiped out again?"

In the boundless silence, in the inky darkness.

If the sun were to rise high in the sky, causing that intense yin energy to dissipate and melt away like old snow in an instant, it would cease to exist.

A beam of moonlight shone down from outside the hall, illuminating Yu Sheng alone.

She was standing there.

Like the only flower blooming on a sheer cliff.

……

……

A flying boat took off from outside Yicheng and headed towards the wasteland.

Wang Jingshuo stood at the bow of the boat, the fierce wind constantly blowing against the armor engraved with intricate array patterns, bringing a strong chill.

His posture was extremely upright, giving his subordinates standing behind him an invincible and strong feeling. However, his eyes were not illuminated by the moonlight tonight, carrying an unconcealable heavy pressure.

This heaviness stems from reality.

The reality was that the Zhenbei Army had to leave Gu Zhuo's life on the wasteland.

Wang Jingshuo is no longer young, no longer the passionate young soldier he was a hundred years ago. He can no longer be excited by tonight's heroic deeds, but he must instill that same passion in his subordinates, and make them willing to give their lives for it.

Boom boom boom!
The thunderous roar, like a torrential downpour, did not descend from the sky, but rose from the earth.

There were countless heavy cavalrymen of Xuan Tie, pouring out of the military camp like a tidal wave, creating a magnificent scene of a dark mass surging into the depths of the wasteland.

Apart from Wang Jingshuo, no one knew whether this was the entire elite force of the Zhenbei Army.

Just as no one knew that on the day of the beginning of spring, Wang Jingshuo secretly received an imperial edict from the White Emperor.

That imperial edict had only one meaning.

At all costs, regardless of life or death, they will kill Gu Zhuo in the wilderness.

Wang Jingshuo still remembers how surprised he was when he heard the imperial decree.

He could understand why His Majesty the Emperor was determined to kill Gu Zhuo, but why the wasteland?

With a trembling voice, the White Emperor gave a clear explanation.

The wasteland is the only place in the world that can completely kill Gu Zhuo.

……

……

The Yi River region has resided in the northern lands for over three thousand years, and its network of informants is naturally countless.

The news of the Zhenbei Army's all-out attack reached Wei Qingci's ears at lightning speed.

After a very brief moment of thought, he came to the conclusion that the White Emperor had decided to kill Gu Zhuo.

Just then, a disciple brought Wei Qingci some new news.

General Wang's trusted advisor has arrived outside the Yi River, hoping to meet with him to discuss important matters.

Wei Qingci had no reason to refuse.

Whether it's this meeting, or the request that might be made during this meeting—to draw the sword against Gu Zhuo.

……

……

That oasis still exists, its vibrant spring colors untouched by the night, a scene of lush beauty.

Thus, everything in this place was also included in the painting.

The night wind died down, and the sound of water ceased.

The starlight descending from the night sky was as rich as paint, applying strange yet vibrant colors to the once still river with strokes here and there.

Pei Jingge and Zhao Qi stood on opposite banks, neither of them paying attention to the other, and thus neither of them cared about anything else, only displaying undisguised pride.

The latter sees only stars, while the former gazes at the still river.

The two didn't seem to be competing against each other; rather, they seemed like complete strangers appreciating the best scenery in each other's hearts.

Only by observing the clear waters can one see the truth.

The moment those words appeared, the two who had entered the realm of ascension had already begun their battle. The seemingly unchanged world and all things, along with space itself, had begun to distort terrifyingly.

Zhao Qi, whose eyes once held a galaxy of stars, is now losing their luster.

The more vibrant the color of the still river, the paler Pei Jingge's face appeared.

This is undoubtedly the most dangerous battle of the soul.

Gu Zhuo was in the middle of it all, but was not affected in the slightest.

He was gazing south, and as if he could hear the approaching thunder, he saw the emperor standing on Baidi Mountain, and the eyes that were watching him.

then.

Crossing thousands of mountains and traversing countless rivers.

The gazes of the two men, one in the north and one in the south, met at this moment.

No words were spoken during that time.

Until the starlight twisted inexplicably, turning into sharp blades that cleaved this world in two.

In an instant, the oasis's eerie tranquility was shattered into pieces.

The river evaporated instantly and dried up, leaving countless cracks in the mud that stretched for miles.

The green grass withered and turned to ashes, leaving not even a wisp of smoke behind.

Suddenly, a faint white light descended upon this place.

It comes from the heavens.

That was the light of an imperial star.

(End of this chapter)