Great Red Immortal Sect

Chapter 642 Not Hesitating
Deep within the imperial palace, the gardens are serene and tranquil.

The area is open and spacious, with craggy rocks and overlapping green artificial mountains. Clouds and mist swirl in the gaps, and when blown by the wind, they envelop a winding white stream in the center.

The scenery along the stream varies. On the east bank, there are large groves of golden pine trees with intertwined branches and leaves, their brilliance shining brightly, nourishing the surrounding vegetation. On the west bank, there is a grove of ancient, verdant trees, where hawks and bees occasionally rise and fall, building their nests.

Beside the stream, a pavilion built of vermilion nanmu wood stands, its eaves entwined with colorful clouds, and its beams and pillars painted with auspicious patterns of pheasants and red birds.

The pavilion is situated on high ground, offering a panoramic view of the entire garden.

Outside was a long white jade path, flanked by eunuchs in rainbow-colored robes and maids in colorful skirts. Upon seeing the newcomers, they all bowed and respectfully greeted them:

"I've seen the real person."

Xu Xuan walked leisurely until he reached the pavilion, where he bowed respectfully.
"Xu Xuan greets Your Majesty."

A man in red robes sat alone by the stream in the pavilion. He had a thin face and a majestic figure. His body was surrounded by surging light, exuding a grand aura of fire, yet also harboring a fierce and menacing aura that made people tremble.

"No need to be polite."

He did not turn around, but continued to look at the vast forest outside the pavilion, his crimson eyes reflecting a dead tree burned by the flames.

"In the ancient Three Eras, during the Human Era, the Thunder Palace was in charge of the Heavenly Way, establishing the laws of the Celestial Court and bestowing human kings upon the people. Thus, the ancient Yu Dynasty was ordered by Heaven to conquer various tribes, which is the origin of the divine power of 'Extinction.' The destiny you gained on the battlefield is just right to perfect this path."

Tianchi turned his head, his tone leisurely.

He was not wearing an imperial robe at this moment, but had changed into a cultivator's robe, which was embroidered with patterns of rising fire, much like the style of ancient immortals.

A crimson token hung from his waist, gleaming with light, engraved with the four ancient characters "Nan Zhuo Li Huo," clearly an extremely powerful spiritual artifact, even carrying a strong aura of destiny.

In Xu Xuan's eyes, the emperor's destiny had reached a level beyond the mundane, beyond the reach of the Purple Mansion, and was inextricably linked to the nation.

If he tries to diminish the other party's fortune, he will suffer the consequences first.

"My dear minister, it is the perfect time for you to leave the pass. The way of thunder is flourishing now. The so-called 'one breath and one spirit' is the foundation of all thunder, which is beneficial to all thunder."

His words seemed to carry a deeper meaning, but Xu Xuan did not respond, only standing quietly to the side.

"The fire will flourish greatly."

Tianchi withdrew his gaze, looked again at the woods on both sides of the stream, a smile playing on his lips, and asked:

"Does my dear minister know of the changes in the Guangmu tree?"

“They built nests, palaces, and forests from the broad trees. In ancient times, the Youchao clan tamed them and made them work for people.”

Xu Xuan spoke cautiously, not saying much, only mentioning things that most cultivators already knew. He dared not reveal any flaws, after all, the emperor before him was quite suspicious.

“Things are different now,” Tian Chi said in a deep voice. “Guangmu has become dead wood, as hard as metal and stone, and cannot be regenerated, but it can be used as firewood for all kinds of fires and as beams for palaces. And now the Li Fire—is therefore even more blazing and bright.”

He stretched out his hand and pointed to the trees on both sides of the stream.

"Which element of wood do you think the [Flourishing Spring Forest] in the east and the [Gathering and Nourishing Wood] in the west belong to?"

"Judging from its aura, it seems to be Guangmu?"

Xu Xuan looked at it, but he wasn't quite sure. The aura was indeed Guangmu, but there seemed to be something unusual lurking below.

Suddenly, a vast expanse of sunlight rose, sweeping across the area, and the aura of the two groves of trees completely dissipated.

The golden forest in the east sprouted branches and leaves, transforming into the shape of dragons and snakes, while the ancient tree in the west instantly sprouted branches and leaves, piercing through birds and beasts, turning them into withered scabbards.

"They should be classified as A and B. As the saying goes, a corpse is called a body on the bed and a coffin is called a coffin. A ruler of broad wood will not stiffen after death, while a ruler of auspicious wood will have flesh reappear on white bones."

The light of the fire swept across the two groves of trees, but did not set them ablaze.

"Guangmu is lazy and slow. When it is taken away, it reacts slowly and can often maintain its form for a while. However, when it encounters the light of the fire, it will reveal its true form."

"What does Your Majesty mean?"

"The fire rises and eventually ascends to the heavens. Right now, it is merely using the power of the nation to burn vast amounts of wood and greatly enhance the nature of fire, but this path is ultimately unsuitable for a king."

Tian Chi raised his hand, gesturing for Xu Xuan to enter the pavilion, while the outside light grew even more intense.

“I can speak frankly with you, setting aside the distinction between ruler and subject for the time being.”

"If Li Huo were to become an emperor, he would always strive for advancement. Even if he conquered Liao, this fire would never be satisfied. If he were to retreat even once, the damage would be immense, requiring several times the merit to repay it."

His gaze was intense, as if he were sighing with emotion.

"Li (the fire element) is associated with the Yang (the five elements), receiving light and heat from the sun and brightness from the lesser Yang (the five elements), hence the name 'Jing Ji Xi' (敬缉熙), also known as 'Ming Liang Hui' (明两晖). Even now, when the Yang is not flourishing, the fire of Li still possesses this power, which is derived from the Five Virtues."

"Guangmu?"

Seeing the strange phenomena before him, Xu Xuan already had a guess.

After listening for a long time, Tian Tuo had now formed a conclusion and whispered:

'The achievements of that Emperor Li in attaining enlightenment were most likely conquest and burning of vast forests. If true fire accumulates in the earth's veins, and Ding fire is formed by the radiance of stars, then Li fire's thirst for all Yang energies is second only to Bing fire.'

"Now that the sun is in its proper position, the Bing fire's pursuit of proof is not a dead end. The Li fire, however, is different. Besides borrowing the sun's radiance, it also needs the transformation of Lesser Yang, hiding Yin within and embracing Yang without—this is also the characteristic of that 'Chengyi Xianhua' plant, outwardly displaying Li Yang, inwardly receiving Yin, undergoing a transformation between the exterior and interior."

The celestial being in the pavilion had no idea that Xu Xuan harbored an old demon within him; he only said:

"When the Great Ancestor was born, he attained enlightenment at Chongming Mountain by virtue of his achievements in pacifying various states and destroying the Great Qi. From then on, Li Huo attached himself to Guangmu, and then attacked Yin Guang and killed that Guangmu Zhenjun."

"Therefore, today's fire actually draws its light and heat from the virtue of wood, and its thirst for the yang is not as great as before, and it has already shown an independent trend."

Tian Chi spoke calmly, yet he revealed the fundamental principles of the current Dao of Departing Fire, instantly enlightening Xu Xuan.

"Li Huo needs a great victory to increase its light and heat so as to completely burn Guang Mu, which is why it attacked Liao. However, Li Huo does not need any imperial subjects; they are all burdens that will eventually be discarded."

"My dear minister, you should make plans early. Within a hundred years, our dynasty will stake everything on a great victory, regardless of sacrifice. What happens after that is not up to the Song family's consideration."

Tian Chi spoke in a low, melancholic tone, but the meaning behind his words was quite clear.

With the full strength of the nation, this magnificent feat of pacifying the world was accomplished, increasing the fire of Li Huo to burn Guang Mu. It is also highly likely that the True Lord of Li Huo could use this opportunity to escape, or even advance further.

But what will become of the world afterward? After such a massive war, without an emperor to rule, it might instantly turn into a chaotic world that is the likes of which are not seen for thousands of years!
Serving the Song dynasty now may not guarantee protection once the world is unified, and even establishing a religious order may be merely a means to attack the Liao dynasty!
Xu Xuan's mind grew heavy as he began to ponder.

"Yes. If the Earth element is proven, he will become emperor. But now the world is divided between Liao and the Song, where can he establish a dynasty? It seems it was decided long ago that even if the Song unifies the world, it will never truly be an imperial dynasty. On the contrary, prosperity inevitably leads to decline, and it's time to extricate himself. When the Great Li pacifies Liao, it will also be the time for this dynasty to end."

The man under the pavilion's voice gradually changed:
"Sitting in this position is like being in the midst of water, fire, swords, and spears, yet outsiders are unaware of this and still envy, resent, and be jealous of me."

Tian Chi seemed to have a hint of self-deprecation, but the pressure in his eyes grew heavier as he stared at Xu Xuan.

"As for you, seeking the shrine will also mean certain death, but if you are reincarnated, you may still have the opportunity to seek gold. You can try for the positions of Zhen, Shen, and Xiao. Even if you just need a trace of gold, I can ask for it for you after I ascend to the highest level."

"May I ask, Your Majesty, what exactly are your demands?"

Xu Xuan remained calm and composed, unmoved by the other party's words. He understood that Tian Chi's situation was probably not good either. He had previously thought that Tian Chi had some connection with Zhu Que, but now it seemed that he was being pushed out to take the blame.

If Da Li truly wants to escape, how should the current emperor conduct himself? And the golden throne he seeks to attain is even more intriguing.

Ascending to the throne.

The only Fire Venerable Position Xu Xuan had ever heard of was [Zhu Li], which resembled the sun. This clearly conflicted with the Daoist teachings of the Southern Manifestation True Lord, as both were related to the fate of Tian Chi if the Great Fire were to dissipate.
Do you know about the Yan Dynasty?

The vermilion eyes of the bird seemed to exude a deep and majestic aura.

"Nature knows."

Xu Xuan did not try to hide anything and answered frankly.

He already has enough unusual traits, so this one more wouldn't make a difference. If he had some fortuitous encounters, it wouldn't be surprising if he knew of the existence of this dynasty, and he was well aware of the Golden Core Dao lineage.

Tian Chi nodded slightly and continued:
"Yan was born in the Xia Dynasty. He was originally a person with a slight bloodline of Fu Xuan. He cultivated Bing Fire and by chance, he was chosen by the Dao of Bing Fire and thus established the Heavenly Dynasty and revived the Feng Clan."

"If we calculate carefully, this dynasty lasted quite a long time, more than a thousand years. The Bing Fire alone produced three emperors. The first was naturally the founding emperor, who sat on the throne, but later perished while seeking the Dao. The second was the one who attained the throne again after the founding emperor's death, and continued the dynasty's reign."

"Both of these are emperors. As for the third person, he is the source of your sect's lineage, Hengguang."

When the other party mentioned this matter, Xu Xuan's heart stirred slightly. Just as he was about to speak, he saw Tian Chi smile and say:

"I've heard that this lord comes from a humble background. Although he has some imperial blood, he no longer enjoys any titles and is restricted from seeking the Dao outside."

"The Yan dynasty imposed such restrictions on the imperial family."

Xu Xuan's mind raced, but he never expected such a past event to exist.

"So He ascended the treasure platform, stripped himself of his bloodline, and embarked on the path of immortality. Later, he obtained the inheritance of Feng Xuan from an unknown source, followed the principles of Yin and Yang, and achieved perfect cultivation. He was about to prove the Dao of Bing Zun on Mount Tai Xuan, which caused a stir in the court, and many petitioned to have him executed."

"The position of honor is often changing, and the host and guest are not fixed. If Guangmu is strong today, even if the dragon seed attains enlightenment, it will be extremely difficult to take away its will. At most, it can only occupy a position among them."

Tian Chi's casual remark resolved many of Xu Xuan's doubts.

"I see. If one's position is strong enough, it can accommodate the position of honor. But if one's condition is not good, it is easy for the host and guest to switch places and be taken over by heretics."

Xu Xuan immediately understood that becoming a supreme being for a time was probably not a good thing for Bing Huo at that time, especially after receiving the glory of the ancient Xia sun.

"Several ancient sages, such as Fu Huang, Da Sui, and You Chao, were figures from the Tianji era. The Feng clan claimed to be descendants of Fu Yi and was quite close to the Feng Xuan lineage that arose in the Diji era."

"It can be proven that the struggle between Daoist Bingzun and Daoist Bingzun was a real struggle that could not be resolved by mere fate. However, at that time, that emperor granted permission for your Daoist Ancestor's actions."

Tianchi's gaze shifted and he looked over.

"Among your clan, there is still a pure bloodline of the Feng clan, who is the successor of the Yan Dynasty. There will be a great man returning to this dynasty. Perhaps he is a complete reincarnation of a True Lord, or perhaps he is just a figurehead of the Metal element. But in any case, with the Immortal Ji above, the Bing Fire position belongs to Him."

"If one day the Bing Fire returns, it will surely be useful for your lineage. Do you understand my meaning?"

"Of course I understand."

Xu Xuan let out a sigh of relief. He now understood what Tian Chi was thinking. What he valued was not the She Lei (a type of magical weapon), but rather the lineage and origins of his sect, which was related to the Yan Dynasty.

This emperor is looking for a way out for himself.

"Now that the True Lords are fighting in the heavens, the cause and effect are in turmoil and the destiny is in chaos. It is the time for all parties in the world to take action. You should take a look at how many paths you still have and make plans as soon as possible."

"As for the cultivation method, there is also news about the Northern Thunder inheritance. Our dynasty is currently excavating the Fengdai Imperial Palace and has already found traces of it. There should be results within a few years."

Tian Chi's crimson eyes flickered, and he smiled:

"However, this inheritance is not easy to obtain. There is currently turmoil in Wucheng. We hope that the Sword Immortal will come out of seclusion and take charge of this place to enhance the brilliance of my Li Huo."

"Yes."

Xu Xuan knew that the other party's reward was not easy to obtain; the previous series of battles had almost caused him to perish on the frontier.

Although there is now that Wucheng, Dali will eventually move north, not just hold out.

Once they truly penetrate Liao territory, the counterattack they will face will inevitably be even more intense, and it seems that Tingtian Chi intends to spare no effort even if it means wiping out all the available forces in the country.

What I need to do is survive this struggle, cultivate to perfection, and only then will I have room to maneuver.

'Yan Dynasty.'

Seeing that the matter had been settled, Tian Chi then said:
"Is there anything else you require? If not, you can leave."

Xu Xuan's mind raced, and he remembered something. Since the emperor had spoken, he decided not to be polite.

"Your Majesty, may I meet Rang An of Qingwu Road?"

He had long had this idea, and now that the war was over and he had made great contributions, Xu Xuan felt more confident to discuss this matter with Tian Chi.

We'll have to fight our way to Liaodong to find the martial arts techniques, but who knows when that will be? Right now, Rang'an, whom we've taken refuge with, is a useful tool. Maybe we can find out something from him. If all else fails, we can still question him about the Gaoxia incident.

"Are you looking for him?"

Tian Chi frowned slightly, as if he was in a dilemma. With a flick of his sleeve, he wrote a golden decree and it fell down.

"This person has no ambition, but his destiny is extraordinary. He has now been taken in by the Mountain Tribe and transformed into a deity, serving as a servant of the [White Society Fate God]. If you want to find him, you will need to see Bai Lin."

"Bai Lin."

Xu Xuan knew that this person had a special status, being a manifestation of metal, cultivating the divine path, and now, after all this time, possessing supernatural power even in his newborn life.

"His current name is Bai Jun. He is preparing to establish the Five Sacred Mountains and will carry out his duties outside the Southern Capital. All the people of the mountain tribe will obey his orders."

"May I ask, Your Majesty, what are these Five Sacred Mountains?"

Tian Chi's tone shifted slightly, and he said only:
"The Western Peak is Huayin, the Northern Peak is Hengguo, the Southern Peak is Taixuan, and the Eastern Peak is Taishan. These have all been established. The Central Peak was reduced in the past, but now we are preparing to move the mountain and add another peak, named [Gaoyang], which will be located in Qinhe County, west of Lizhou."

"You have received my decree. Go here and you will naturally see the white unicorn."

A hint of amusement flickered across the emperor's face as he looked at Xu Xuan and said calmly:
"However, Bai Jun is stubborn and unruly. Whether you can persuade him depends on your skills."

"Yes."

Xu Xuan was puzzled, but said nothing. He simply accepted the order and retreated along the long road.

Tianchi, standing in the pavilion, stared thoughtfully at the departing figure, and softly murmured:

"【Extinction of Life】is an extremely useful supernatural power."

(End of this chapter)