Starting from the Tiger Demon Yaksha, the demon immortality

Chapter 277, Section 286: Dragons and snakes rise from the land, deeply entrenched problems are hard to reverse.

The crimson horse trod the dirt road, its mouth and nostrils exhaling hot steam, making it particularly conspicuous in the late autumn morning.

Through the saddles made of brocade and fine wood, one can see the light scales covering the horse's shoulders and belly, as well as the sharp teeth under the bridle.

On both sides of the carriage, burly, fully armed soldiers stood guard.

Occasionally glancing back into the distance, Xijing Daxing City had become a tiny dot in the vast distance, and a faint sense of ease appeared on the faces of the group.

Even though Zhu Quanzhong, the Prince of Liang, was powerful, he was not yet the master of Daxing City.

The most dangerous part of escorting the two young masters to the capital this time was in that magnificent ancient city.

Even the most arrogant soldiers in the warlord regions had to be careful and keep their tails between their legs.

Fortunately, the mission is now over.

"It's a pity that I couldn't witness the prosperity of the capital today, the Lantern Festival."

Zhu Yougui looked somewhat regretful as he drew the carriage curtain and gazed at Zhu Youzhen, who was resting quietly in the spacious carriage.

The latter had his eyes closed and seemed to still be unconscious.

"Now that you're awake, what are you pretending for? Do you want me to take off your other arm too?"

Hearing these casual words, Zhu Youzhen suddenly opened his eyes, his dark pupils fixed on his brother beside him, his tone chilling:
"Zhu Yougui, you're very afraid of me."

Zhu Yougui laughed, "What am I afraid of?"

“You’re afraid I’ll surpass you and take your place. You cut off my arm not to win over Li Cunxiao at all.”

“My dear brother, instead of going through all this roundabout and self-serving schemes, why not just kill me with a single sword?”

"You think I don't want to?"

Zhu Yougui's shadow remained on the mat, but his true form was already standing before the bed, his true essence surging with a purplish-copper color, and the spirit of the Benevolent King Warrior rose behind him.

Staring into those cold eyes, Zhu Youzhen felt as if she had thorns in her back, and a chill ran down her spine.

At that moment, he had no doubt about the murderous intent the person in front of him harbored towards him.

So naked, so intense, that it startled those outside.

"Young Master, please calm down." The carriage curtain was lifted, and Ge Congzhou slipped in, sitting down to the side as if no one else was there, seemingly oblivious to the tense atmosphere between the two brothers.

"The second young master is the same as the eldest young master; they are both sons of the king. Please don't make things difficult for me."

"General Ge is right."

As if he had just come to his senses, the spiritual image and true essence behind him disappeared the moment he returned to his seat.

"No matter how useless my second brother is, he is still Father's son."

"It was because of this identity that even though you caused such a big mess, I still managed to get rid of the court for you, reattach your arm, and return to Luoyang ahead of schedule."

"Second son, you should thank me, and you should thank your father."

"Having learned your lesson this time, I hope you can recognize your place and prevent a next time."

Zhu Youzhen's vest was already soaked with sweat, and her face turned even paler when she heard what the other person said.

I don't know if it's because the injury hasn't healed yet, or for some other reason.

He looked deeply at Zhu Youzhen and Ge Congzhou, then forced himself to sit up cross-legged, took out the pills, swallowed them, and began circulating his qi.

Beneath the calm exterior lies a deep-seated resentment and hatred.

He didn't think he had done anything wrong, and he scoffed at Zhu Yougui's actions.

There cannot be two suns in the sky, nor two rulers in a country. If Zhu Quanzhong wanted to be the ruler of the world, he had to destroy the Qin Dynasty.

Similarly, as a collaborator of the Liang King, the Ming Cult, wanting to become the state religion of "Great Liang," could not tolerate the presence of Buddhism and Taoism.

At least in Zhu Youzhen's view, there was absolutely no possibility of cooperation between Qinglong Temple and Louguan Taoism, two sects with close ties to the imperial court.

Since we're bound to clash sooner or later, what's wrong with offending Li Cunxiao and Guo Zhao?
Previously, the Ming Cult even sent a Dharma King to their door, wanting to kidnap people and find the location of the Lingbao Dragon Boat. Do you think the Louguan Dao would forget this grudge? Do you think the Taiyi Zhenren would forget it?

Zhu Yougui, who even dared to pretend to be a wise ruler and attract talented people, had not forgotten that his whole family were rebels!
"In this world, the law of the jungle prevails. If you lack strength, you can only humble yourself and act subserviently."

"But as long as Father overthrows the Qin Dynasty and becomes emperor, what can Louguan Dao do? Even if it's Taiyi Zhenren or Li Cunxiao, they'll still have to wag their tails and beg for mercy!"

Zhu Youzhen kept repeating these words in his mind, and his state of mind gradually calmed down.

The three people in the carriage fell silent.

The distance between the Eastern Capital and the Western Capital is very short. If it were a warhorse in the army, it could reach the capital in two days by galloping without rest.

The atmosphere between the imperial court and the Prince of Liang is tense, with each side sending out scouts to probe each other.

As evening fell, Zhu Yougui and his two companions' carriage encountered scouts from the Liang King's army.

When the guards saw the prince, they were naturally very respectful and guided him back to the military camp.

As we continued our journey, night was drawing to a close and the first light of dawn was breaking.

Zhu Yougui descended, only to see a streak of blood-red light suddenly shoot into the sky from the direction of Luoyang, the eastern capital.

Amidst the dark clouds and flashing lightning, a magnificent Dharma image appeared in the sky, and two distinct roars could be faintly heard.

However, above those two Dharma forms that were clearly at a disadvantage, there was another Dharma form.

It was even larger, and the sky behind it was awe-inspiring, manifesting a scene like a Buddhist pure land.

Even from such a distance, a cold, domineering, and powerful aura still emanates from afar.

The demonic horse knelt on the ground, and the soldiers trembled. Only the Zhu brothers stared into the distance, their excitement overwhelming them.

"It's my father!"

"Is it finally starting?"

As Ge Congzhou gazed at the strange phenomenon of the Dharma images battling each other, a complex and incomprehensible thought arose in his mind.

"Huang Chao and Qin Zongquan, the notorious bandits who roamed the world, will be wiped out from the world today."

Hundreds of houses resemble a game of Go, and twelve streets are like vegetable plots.

I can faintly see the morning fire in the distance, and a constellation of stars shines westward through the five gates.

As Li Cunxiao followed the eunuch through the vermilion gates of the imperial city, these lines of poetry naturally came to mind.

The design of the Qin imperial city faced south, with numerous markets and wards scattered throughout, like stars surrounding the North Star.

The Zhuque Avenue, wide enough for thousands of troops to pass through, runs directly from the south of Daxing City to the Shuntian Gate of the Imperial City.

Looking at Guo Zhao beside him, as well as the two monks Ru Hai and Ru Hui from Qinglong Temple, they were all looking straight ahead, clearly not first time to the capital, and already used to it.

Today is the fifteenth of October, the Lower Yuan Festival, which is both the opening day of the Great Red Heaven at Taiqing Palace and the day when the emperor leads his officials in sacrificial rites.

The Qin Dynasty regarded Taoism as its primary religion, and revered the Supreme Emperor of the Mysterious Origin as its ancestor. Sacrifices to Heaven were also sacrifices to the ancestors.

Choosing this day to open the secret realm may well have been a way of communicating with the gods and praying for the blessings of ancestors.

Today, Li Cunxiao and others were all wearing the purple robes bestowed upon the high-ranking Taoist priests by the imperial court. Guided by eunuchs, they passed through Jiade Gate and Taiji Gate, and the Taiji Palace could be seen in the distance.

Standing still and gazing into the distance, one can vaguely see a patch of crimson robes. At the highest point of the Danbi (Imperial Steps), a young-looking emperor in ceremonial robes is reciting a prayer.

Welcoming the gods, playing elegant music, burning incense, offering jade and silk, presenting sacrificial offerings, the three-offering ceremony, drinking blessed wine and receiving the sacrificial meat, and observing the burning of offerings.
A complete set of sacrificial rites is very complicated, but for Li Min, the 21st emperor of the Qin Dynasty, no matter how complicated the process was, it could not be more complicated than the situation he was in at this moment.

Beneath the altar stood a sea of ​​crimson court robes, with the sable hairpin on the canopy crown and the white brush on the beam crown forming a straight line.

"What a righteous and upright court!" Li Min smiled self-deprecatingly.

"The court is so full of talented people, yet in my hands, only the capital region remains; the country is doomed." "How can I, in such a shameful state, have the face to report to my ancestors?"

The eunuch beside him, unaware of the reason, was terrified and dared not utter a sound.

Among the ministers, Gao Pian, as the Grand Secretary and the de facto prime minister of the Qin Dynasty, naturally stood at the forefront.

Hearing the emperor's mutterings, he slowly raised his head, his expression calm.

Without saying a word, the exchange of glances between the ruler and his subject brought Li Min some comfort, and she continued the sacrificial ceremony.

When the final stage of the sacrificial ceremony, the burning of the torch, arrived, the young emperor took the seal that had inherited the mandate of heaven for six hundred years from the eunuch and held it up to the sky with both hands.

A touch of crimson transferred from his body into the white jade seal, gradually turning into gold in the process.

Golden light spun into the sky, and an invisible wave spread out from the altar.

"Ok?"

Li Cunxiao suddenly looked up and saw that the sky above Taiji Palace was filled with golden light, like a vast ocean or a mirror.

In the reflection of the water mirror, golden nails adorn the jade doors, and colorful phoenixes dance at the vermilion gates.

The corridors and hallways are exquisitely carved, with three eaves and four clusters of eaves, and layers of dragons and phoenixes flying.

Golden rays of light rolled like red rainbows, and auspicious clouds sprayed purple mist, creating a scene resembling another celestial paradise.

Is this the Great Red Heaven?

Li Cunxiao was startled, but looking at everyone around him—Guo Zhao, the two monks from Qinglong Temple, the eunuchs, and even the officials below the altar in the distance—no one reacted, as if they couldn't see anything.

A crimson dragon mark slowly appeared between his brows, faintly glowing.

Li Cunxiao opened his eyes wide and saw a golden dragon winding and soaring through the golden water mirror in the celestial cave, descending onto the altar.

"Is this golden dragon the spirit of the Lingbao Taiqing Palace? I have a feeling that there is something else involved."

Li Cunxiao stared at Jinlong and, upon closer inspection, was surprised to find that his body was covered in wounds.

The dragon's scales were peeling off, its claws and teeth were dull, its eyes were cloudy, and even one of its horns was broken off.

The aged golden dragon first circled around the young emperor, then turned and flew straight down from the altar, heading straight for Gao Pian.

The moment the golden dragon possessed him, Gao Pian couldn't help but let out a muffled groan, his tall body even hunching over a bit.

It seems that the golden dragon not only failed to bring him blessings, but instead created a great burden for him.

The whole process seemed long, but it was actually very short. Li Cunxiao only glanced at it before quickly looking away.

The terrestrial immortals possessed keen senses; if they looked any longer, the Grand Secretary would likely discover something amiss.

Louguandao and the people of Qinglong Temple did not have to wait long. As the ministers who participated in the sacrifice filed out under the guidance of the eunuchs, the fully armed Shence Army soon came to guide them into the Taiji Palace for an audience.

On the throne, Li Min changed out of the imperial robes she had just worn and put on an ochre-yellow round-necked robe, looking at the people who entered Taiqing Palace.

"These are the chosen ones to enter the secret realm this time, the contemporary leaders of Louguan Dao and Qinglong Temple?"

"Your Majesty, that's right."

Gao Pian also changed out of his court robes, and his purple robe and gold fish-shaped pouch shone brightly under the lamplight.

"Guo Zhao was not only a disciple of the Duke of Zhao, but also the heir apparent of the Prince of Fenyang, a descendant of loyal and virtuous officials."

"good."

Upon hearing this, Li Min smiled and nodded at Guo Zhao, who was standing respectfully with his hands clasped in front of him. The latter immediately blushed, looking as if he were honored.

Li Cunxiao found it strange, as he rarely saw the other party so excited.

However, the thought of facing the emperor immediately made him feel a little relieved.

For the descendants of these founding fathers, the special significance of the Qin emperor is beyond doubt.

However, to Li Cunxiao, the other party was just a young man with some power.

Of the sixteen circuits under heaven, the imperial court now only holds control of the capital region.

To put it nicely, Li Min was an emperor; to put it bluntly, he was just a feudal lord with a more prestigious title.

Moreover, he was the vassal who was targeted by everyone.

The golden dragon was covered in wounds; rather than being a spirit of the artifact, it seemed more like a reflection of the declining fortunes of the Qin Dynasty.

"The golden dragon bestowing upon him suggests that the Qin emperor, through sacrificial rites, granted the right to use the sacred treasure to a trusted minister."

'This Grand Secretary seems even older than when I last saw him. Forcibly controlling a spiritual treasure without a master—the price is greater than I expected.'

When Li Cunxiao heard Gao Pian introduce himself, he subtly glanced at the other man, but his expression and demeanor remained respectful.

"A disciple of Taiyi Zhenren? Speaking of which, your master is also from the Li family of Longxi, and has a blood relationship with my royal family."

Although Li Min had only been emperor for a few years, winning people's hearts had become second nature to him.

Seeing that Li Cunxiao's reply was respectful but he was actually unmoved, he did not show any unusual expression.

"Besides Louguan Dao, there will also be several high-ranking monks from Qinglong Temple, as well as Vice Minister of War Wang Zan and Assistant Minister Cui Yuan, who will also enter the secret realm together."

"They have all honed their skills on the Heavenly Ladder for many years, and they are just one opportunity away from breaking through the barrier."

As soon as Gao Pian finished speaking, a Shence Army soldier led two officials dressed in red round-necked robes inside.

The two men both appeared to be in their forties or fifties. Compared to the monks and Taoists beside them, they bowed more respectfully and forcefully, to the point that the sound of armor clashing could be faintly heard from within their robes.

"My two beloved ministers, these are turbulent times. I hope you will rise to higher positions and serve the Great Qin Dynasty."

"I am willing to die for Your Majesty!"

The two men's voices were strong and clear, and their eyes were firm and ardent, clearly indicating that they were "royalists" carefully selected by Gao Pian.

"Your Majesty, I have been rude."

Gao Pian respectfully presented the seal, and with a surge of true energy, a golden gate appeared on the ground of the Taiji Palace in an instant.

Li Cunxiao and the others exchanged glances and followed behind Cui Yuan and Wang Zan without prior arrangement. Soon, their figures disappeared into the Taiji Palace.

After the figures of the others disappeared, Gao Pian put down the seal, a hint of weariness flashing across his face.

Li Min was moved upon seeing this, and quickly stepped down from the throne to take the other person's arm:

"Teacher, you've gone to so much trouble."

Gao Pian respectfully put the seal back, then forced a smile.

"For Your Majesty, for the sake of Great Qin, this is merely the duty of this old minister."

"But not everyone in the world is as conscientious as a teacher."

Li Min sighed deeply. Gao Pian, upon hearing this, wanted to say something to comfort the young emperor, but the former simply gripped the latter's arm tightly.

His eyes were dim.

Louguandao and Qinglong Temple sent out outstanding young talents in their thirties and forties, while Cui Yuan and Wang Zan were actually over sixty years old.

The decline of the Qin Dynasty and the rise of various warlords can be glimpsed from this single instance.

Even with loyal ministers like Gao Pian, there are still ten or a hundred times more rebellious ministers in the world.

How much longer can this dragon throne be used?

When will the Qin Dynasty meet its end?

(End of this chapter)