Please call me Dadaozu

Chapter 346 Emperor Ming—Zhang Yuanzhu! (4000)

Four days later, outside the capital city.

Crimson armor spread like clouds for hundreds of miles, countless cultivators filled the sky, and Foundation Establishment and Great Cultivation cultivators stood in eight directions.

A tall platform stands in the center of the army, reaching to the sky and connecting to the earth, seemingly eternal and suppressing time and space.

Zhang Yuanzhu stood on the high platform, his red robe fluttering, his black hair cascading over his shoulders, his brows revealing a domineering and confident air.

He gazed at the armored soldiers and cultivators, his eyes shining like a galaxy, his hand lightly gripping the measuring ruler.

"The Yuan Dynasty was tyrannical, so I conquered and destroyed it, pacified its people, and established a new nation."

In that instant, his aura was no longer concealed and burst forth unrestrained.

boom!
Like a pillar rising from the heavens, shaking the earth and sky, its domineering and noble aura sweeps across the vast wilderness.

It was like the sky collapsing and the earth overturning, shocking all cultivators and suppressing their resistance.

"bright!"

The young man exhaled and announced the name of the country.

In an instant, the armored soldiers shouted, and the cultivators roared.

"Congratulations to the Ming Dynasty!"

"Congratulations to the people!!"

"Congratulations from the Ming Dynasty!!!"

The sound shook the heavens and the earth, its power overwhelming mountains and rivers, tearing apart the mountains and causing the capital city to tremble.

Standing on the high platform, Zhang Yuanzhu listened to the praises of all living beings, as invisible beliefs converged from all directions.

This is the will of the people, the morale of the army, and their faith.

The emperor, bearing the hopes of all people and the weight of the nation, naturally attracts the faith of all living beings.

Zhang Yuanzhu felt the convergence of beliefs and silently began to circulate the "Dragon Guiding Qi Method" to refine the dragon qi of the new dynasty.

Faith itself is drawn from the body, flows into the sleeves, constantly transforming, and giving birth to dragon energy.

The young man's gaze was serene as he lightly touched the measuring rod with his five fingers.

Dang~
The sound of jade clashing against each other drowned out the clamor in the sky, plunging the world into silence.

He slowly began to speak:
"Rename Dadu to Jinling, and make it the capital of the new dynasty."

"Each of you shall perform your duties, pacify the land, gather troops at the border, and conquer the Yan invaders."

"By order of the Emperor, defeat the Yan invaders!"

The cultivators roared, and the aura of war filled the land.

Just as everything was proceeding smoothly, a voice interrupted the celebration.

"and many more!"

Before the words had even finished, two figures appeared at the edge of the world.

The next instant, they arrived in front of the high platform.

An old man with a face full of wrinkles, dressed in a black feather robe, was surrounded by a thick aura of resentment and yin energy.

A middle-aged man dressed in an ancient Taoist robe, wearing a wooden crown, and holding a whisk in his hands, carefully examined the figure on the high platform.

These two cultivators are quite remarkable. Judging from their aura alone, they are no less powerful than the masters of the Dharma lineage and possess the strength of the ninth level of Foundation Establishment.

Zhang Yuanzhu stared at the two men with an indifferent expression.

The old man stepped forward, his eyes cold, and spoke directly:
"I am the guardian of the Paper Doll Dao lineage, and I have come on behalf of the Immortal Soldier Valley to stop the war between the Yan and Yuan kingdoms."

"Both sides agree to a truce and cease hostilities."

"Young friend, your mission is complete. Let us return together."

The middle-aged Taoist priest beside him, with a smile on his face, calmly watched the crimson figure and softly said:
"Whether it's the Yan Kingdom, the Yuan Kingdom, the Xuanqing Temple, or even the Zhuoyang Dharma Lineage, all are under the sect's command and should be obeyed."

"hehe!"

A soft laugh interrupted the Taoist's words.

Zhang Yuanzhu tilted his head slightly, a hint of doubt in his eyes:
“A paper doll lineage and a Xuanqing Temple, how dare you appear before me?”

In the next instant, his mind trembled violently, and his magical power surged forth. The magical power stored in the strange space rushed out and converged into one.

The five internal organs, muscles, bones, and skin all trembled together, and the blood and qi surged like a vast ocean.

Deep within the soul, the [Special Characteristics] of energy storage, mountain-moving and ridge-conquering, and gigantic transformation burst forth with full force.

In an instant, an indescribable power filled my heart.

With a slight stomp of his foot, his figure suddenly rose higher, like a sacred mountain emerging, filling the sky and creating a hundred-mile-long wave of air.

He raised his arm, spread his fingers, and a streak of purple lightning emerged from his palm, transforming into a lightning spear.

kill!

Retract your arm and throw your gun!
The dazzling lightning, like a purple ocean, filled the vision of all living beings, carrying a resolute killing intent as it traversed the sky.

At this moment, both the elderly and the middle-aged changed their expressions drastically.

Danger!

very dangerous!!

Extremely dangerous!!!

Both body and mind are frantically warning each other.

At this moment, anger and confusion are no longer relevant; only the most primal instinct for survival remains.

The nine-layered spiritual platform trembled violently, unleashing a barrage of spells that surged forward.

Various magical artifacts and talismans transformed into a torrent, meeting the thunder.

The two men looked expectantly at the approaching lightning spear; if they could hold it for even a moment, they could live.

Sizzle~ Bang~ Throw~
In less than a moment, the magic vanished, the magical artifact shattered, and the talisman turned to ashes.

A bolt of lightning, carrying the might of heaven, pierced through the old man's chest, turning him into charred remains.

Then, undeterred, it stabbed at the middle-aged Taoist priest.

Ah!
The Taoist priest let out a long roar, and the whisk in his bosom fluttered like three thousand divine swords, blocking the thunder spear.

bang~
The whisk exploded, turning into countless strands of smoke, causing the Taoist to cough up blood and retreat.

However, the Thunder Spear was also destroyed.

At this moment, all living beings reacted, staring in disbelief at the scene before them, regardless of their strength.

He killed a Foundation Establishment Peak cultivator with a single spear thrust and severely injured a Foundation Establishment Peak Grand Master. Wasn't that person the one who exhausted the Condensing Fiend True Person by relying on the great formation?

Zhang Yuanzhu remained indifferent. In the past month or so, he had acquired the [Level 3] trait and broken through in the Body Refinement Technique.

His combat power increased by more than double in a short period of time.

Even if the Yuan Emperor were alive, he could kill his opponent within ten moves, let alone an old and frail cultivator who had just entered the ninth level of Foundation Establishment.

He raised his hand again, and lightning burst forth, transforming into a lightning spear.

"Your Majesty misunderstands. Our Xuanqing Temple comes with sincerity and wishes to cease our war with Your Majesty."

"Your Majesty, the paper figures and Tai Ri have already agreed to this measure. Please reconsider, Your Majesty!"

The Taoist priest let out a long howl and his figure retreated rapidly.

The young man had deep, unfathomable eyes, his five fingers tightly gripping the thunder spear.

"The matter of conquest is mine, not the sect's."

Retract your arm and throw your gun!
kill!

The lightning tore through the sky, leaving ripples that stretched for dozens of miles, shattering the protective magic and pinning the middle-aged Taoist to the ground.

Zhang Yuanzhu withdrew his hand, his gaze sweeping over the group of cultivators with an air of majesty and dominance.

"Continue with the establishment of the new dynasty!"

"It's your Majesty!"

The group of cultivators responded, their expressions growing increasingly fervent as they made arrangements for various matters.

Until the sun sets in the west and the bright moon rises.

The matter of establishing the nation had just come to a close.

Zhang Yuanzhu took a step forward and disappeared from the high platform, heading towards Jinling.

Inside the brand-new palace, a crimson figure slowly emerged, gazing at the magnificent hall and the dragon throne atop the ninety-nine steps.

He looked puzzled as he climbed the steps.

Ta-ta-ta~
The crisp sound of footsteps echoed in the palace, stopping before the dragon throne.

The young man gazed at the throne, a variety of images flashing through his eyes.

Through the snowstorms of Jiangshui City, the struggle for Dao Peak, and the fierce battles in the Beast Taming Secret Realm, we have overcome many obstacles to reach where we are today.

What was once an unattainable and unattainable status can now be attained in a single step. "The road is difficult and arduous, but I have no regrets!"

He sits upright on the dragon throne, looking down upon the world.

boom!
The dragon energy that had been nurtured in the sleeves took shape and transformed into a golden dragon, which burst forth from the sleeves.

The golden dragon circled the youth affectionately, its form shifting like smoke and ever-changing vapor.

Zhang Yuanzhu sensed the dragon energy and shook his head helplessly. His strength was only at the initial stage of Foundation Establishment, and he couldn't leave the Ming Kingdom yet. It was better than nothing.

However, as time goes by and the thoughts of the army and the people converge, the dragon energy will gradually become stronger until it becomes comparable to the dragon energy under the feet of the Yuan Emperor.

The young man reached out and stroked the dragon's aura.

He then placed the dragon energy in his palm onto the throne he was sitting on.

His ultimate purpose in refining dragon energy was simply to separate the gathered faith and thoughts, purify himself, and ultimately add a layer of protection for the future of the Ming Dynasty.

Now that the Ming Dynasty has been established, it is time to attack the Yan Dynasty.

However, with the arrival of the paper figures and the cultivators from Wuliang Palace today, and their mention of a ceasefire, is it a joint decision by both factions, or a private discussion?

If the decision is made jointly, then this campaign will involve more than just the Yan Kingdom and the Xuanqing Temple.

Zhang Yuanzhu's eyes flickered, his knuckles slightly bent as he tapped the armrest lightly, various thoughts flashing through his mind.

He quickly made his decision.

"Then let's fight. What's promised must eventually be fulfilled."

Afterwards, Zhang Yuanzhu took out the meteorite from his pocket, placed it on his abdomen, and began to cultivate with all his might.

He must do everything in his power to become stronger and increase his strength, without wasting a single moment.

The next day, early in the morning.

As the sun rose in the east, Zhang Yuanzhu, seated on his throne, put away the meteorite from his abdomen and prepared to head to the frontier.

Suddenly, a warrior clad in crimson armor entered from outside the hall, his expression respectful.

Clasping your hands in a fist salute!
"Two cultivators have requested an audience, claiming to be old acquaintances of His Majesty."

'My old friend?'

Zhang Yuanzhu's deep, double pupils gazed directly out of the palace, observing every minute detail.

Soon, two figures wearing straw hats and black robes came into view.

Sensing that familiar aura, the young man waved his hand.

"Let them in."

"It's Your Majesty."

The general rose and retreated, disappearing from the main hall.

Soon, two figures wearing straw hats entered the palace side by side.

As they walked forward, they exuded a sense of peace and purity, softening even the most majestic hall.

"Little Ni Fading greets Emperor Ming."

"Little Nifayan greets Emperor Ming."

The two men put their hands together, bowed deeply, and bowed respectfully.

Zhang Yuanzhu raised his arm, leaned against the armrest, propped his cheek up, and looked at the two Buddhist monks with a calm expression.

"What do you want with me? Speak plainly!"

Clean and efficient, without any unnecessary delays.

The slightly taller-looking Fazhi rose, softly chanted a Buddhist prayer, and slowly began to speak:
"My junior sister and I have come here hoping that Emperor Ming will escort us for a while, and we are willing to pay a price that will satisfy His Majesty."

Legally, she had no choice but to resort to this desperate measure, as the road ahead was fraught with danger and traveling alone with her junior sister was far too perilous.

Having searched all over the ancient cliff mountain, only the person in front of me is suitable.

"Protect them for a while?"

Zhang Yuanzhu's eyes were deep, and he leaned lazily against the throne.

"The Yan state has deployed a large army on the border, and a war is about to begin. I cannot leave. You two should leave."

Her eyes, peering through the sheer veil, gazed at the emperor on his throne, her red lips parting slightly:

"Your Majesty misunderstands. It is not too late to escort my junior sister and me after this matter is settled."

"We are not in a hurry."

"Ah!"

The young man chuckled and lowered the hand that had been supporting his cheek.

"You seem to have some faith in me."

He didn't believe the two Buddhist monks were unaware of what had happened yesterday, and still thought he could weather the storm given the current situation.

As I pondered, my spine straightened, like a dormant volcano, containing immense power.

"Tell me, where are you going? And what price are you willing to pay?"

Fayan, who had been silent all along, took half a step forward, past her senior sister, and raised her head slightly to look up at the emperor's figure.

"Escort us to the Southern Desert. As for the price, what does the Emperor desire?"

"Either is fine!"

In an instant, the hall fell silent. Zhang Yuanzhu looked down at the two of them, his double pupils seemingly as high and distant as the sky, as indifferent as an immortal.

After an unknown amount of time, he finally chuckled softly.
"Something interesting."

The other party's status in Buddhism was higher than he had imagined, even more esteemed than saintesses or divine children; otherwise, she wouldn't have had the confidence to say such things.

He paused, then his face became serious:
"From the ancient Yai Mountain to the Southern Desert, it spans a vast region, with mountains and rivers stretching for tens of millions of miles. The dangers along the way are indescribable, and even I cannot guarantee that I will escort you to the end."

"To ensure everything goes smoothly, it would be best to find a peak-level expert in the Qi Condensation stage to escort you."

Zhang Yuanzhu spoke frankly, stating the best option.

The legal and legal representatives exchanged a glance, then spoke again:
"Thank you for informing me, but within the unorthodox sects, apart from outstanding individuals like Your Majesty, there is no one who can be trusted."

This is why they are looking for young people.

They learned about Zhang Yuanzhu's life before and after he embarked on his cultivation journey, a story that involved a beggar.

He is grateful, upright, and honest. Apart from his somewhat domineering methods of exorcising demons, he is an absolutely righteous cultivator.

As for the unorthodox practitioners, if they dared to offer to escort them, they would probably be devoured before they even set off.

Zhang Yuanzhu did not respond immediately. He lowered his hand and stroked the measuring ruler, his eyes filled with thought.

His time was extremely precious, and he would never have traveled tens of millions of miles to escort two unfamiliar cultivators without a price that would tempt him.

After a long, long time, a deep voice descended from the throne:
"The evil energy of Yin and Yang attributes, there is nothing else, and there is no room for discussion."

A flicker of surprise crossed Fa Yan's eyes, then vanished. He clasped his hands together and slowly bowed.

"How does Emperor Ming wish to conduct the transaction?"

boom!
It was like a thunderclap resounding in the young man's mind.

The two people before me possessed malevolent energy with yin and yang attributes!

Zhang Yuanzhu stood up, his red robe fluttering, his black hair moving without wind, and even the long, white ruler at his waist emitted a 'humming' sound.

At this moment, even a young person cannot remain calm.

Compared to lightning-attribute evil energy, yin-yang attribute evil energy is more in line with his cultivation path and is the optimal choice when breaking through to the Condensation of Evil Realm.

Fa Yan seemed oblivious to the changes in the young man, and continued speaking to himself:
"We only possess a portion of this malevolent energy; to obtain the full amount, we must return to the Southern Desert."

As the words drifted by, the slightly taller man took half a step forward and stood shoulder to shoulder with his junior sister.

He stretched out his palm, revealing his fair five fingers, with a wisp of black and white mist moving in his palm.

With a gentle toss, the mist rose straight up the ninety-nine steps and drifted down to the crimson figure.

Zhang Yuanzhu's eyes were sharp as he carefully observed the changing mist.

He saw life and death as opposing yet intertwined, and new life emerging from destruction.

This is the malevolent energy of Yin and Yang!

The young man affirmed, took out a jade box covered with array patterns from his bosom, carefully collected the black and white mist, and put it into his bosom.

Even this single strand of hair was of considerable help to his path of cultivation.

Only then did Zhang Yuanzhu refocus his gaze, solemn and serious:
“I agree to this, but you must hand over the evil energy you are carrying to me when you are halfway there.”

"As for the remaining missing parts, you must find them for me as quickly as possible after returning to the Southern Desert."

The legal term "statutory" and "legal language" both indicate agreement.

"This is the proper way, but fellow Daoist, you must also make a Dao oath."

"Can!"

(End of this chapter)