Starting from the imperial palace guards, his clones spread all over the world.

Chapter 668 Heaven Helps Me!

Thirty miles south of the capital.

Yongan Town.

This once ordinary town in the Gyeonggi region has now been submerged in a breathtaking expanse of yellow.

As far as the eye could see, every household in the town was adorned with a striking yellow cloth flag.

In the streets and alleys, in taverns and teahouses, whether they were peddlers or gentry and elders, men all tightly wrapped their heads with a whole yellow turban, as if wearing some kind of unquestionable emblem.

This overwhelming expanse of yellow is not decoration, but a silent declaration—

In a very short time, the hearts and minds of the entire Yong'an Town, and even the wider region, were completely overthrown by that once-dominant name:

Taiping Dao!
Outside the town, the scene was even more horrifying.

It was as if the earth had sprouted a huge boil, with thousands upon thousands of yellow tents, densely packed together, spreading out in a disorderly manner, all the way to the distant horizon beyond sight.

It was no longer a temporary camp, but a surging Yellow Sea!

The crowd thronged the area, like boiling foam in the sea.

Believers poured in from all directions, joining this ever-expanding yellow tide.

The crowds were so vast that even the most knowledgeable officials would be astonished and embarrassed.

Why have we all gathered here?

All this is because the spiritual totem of the Way of Peace, the Great Sage Teacher worshipped by millions, has now taken up residence in the capital region and designated this small town of Yong'an as the location of his temporary altar.

Thus, this place became the bridgehead for Huang Tian's tentacles to penetrate into the core of the empire, attracting the gazes of various forces, whether greedy, worried, or fearful.

To the north of the town, a completely different force is gathering in response.

A large number of officers and soldiers are on high alert!

The continuous palisades resembled a steel Great Wall, with barricades and trebuchets arrayed in a formidable array, and swords and halberds gleaming. Iron armor reflected a cold light under the winter sun.

Battle flags fluttered, and bugles sounded softly.

A steady stream of reinforcements rushed along the official road, raising dust that blotted out the sun. The heavy, rapid hoofbeats and marching footsteps stirred the surrounding air.

Their sole purpose is to deter the boundless yellow and stop this frenzied wave from continuing its northward advance.

And it is quietly completing a deadly encirclement with its massive military force.

The air was as taut as a fully drawn bowstring.

Although the new emperor Zhao Yu has already sat on the dragon throne, he has not yet had time to formally issue an imperial edict to the Taiping Dao, whose power is rapidly expanding.

However, no one in or around the capital is truly a fool.

Everyone knows it perfectly well—

Once the new emperor catches his breath from the bloody vortex of the power transition and stabilizes the situation, the Taiping Dao will inevitably be the first to suffer!

Kidnapping a princess? This is a crime punishable by death!

Once the imperial edict bearing the Nine Dragons Seal flies out of the palace, a thunderous net of annihilation will instantly descend upon the land!

In Yong'an Town.

Inside the mansion in the town center, which symbolized the pinnacle of power in the Taiping Dao, the main hall doors were tightly shut, like a giant maw devouring secrets.

Elite cultists, clad in yellow turbans, surrounded the area with grim, iron-faced expressions and hawk-like eyes that surveyed every corner, effectively isolating the place as a forbidden zone untouched by mortals.

The Great Teacher is receiving guests here.

but.

Yet there stood an incongruous figure, like a solitary white lotus, standing straight beneath the corridor outside the forbidden area.

The Yellow Turban warriors tried to dissuade her several times in whispers, but she seemed not to hear them.

The strongmen looked at each other, but ultimately dared not take any forceful action, only feeling more helpless.

This is a young girl.

In the prime of life, only seventeen or eighteen years old.

Her eyebrows were delicately drawn like distant mountains and a crescent moon, and her nose was as elegant and straight as a jade pillar, naturally sculpted.

She should have been a stunning beauty, blessed with love and happiness, and always smiling.

In particular, the natural and innate air of nobility that emanates from within is especially striking.

Even the most devoted young ladies from prestigious families in the capital region paled in comparison to this elegance ingrained in their very being, like fireflies compared to the bright moon.

What's most striking is the color on her clothes.

In this world permeated by the "Yellow Heaven," everyone is dressed in clothes symbolizing fervent faith, except for her, who is dressed in white mourning clothes!
The hemp clothing was rough, its whiteness both desolate and glaring.

This isn't a deliberate attempt to be different, but rather—

She is in mourning!

Simply because she is Princess Kangning, Zhao Xiling!

However, the Zhao Xiling of today is completely different from the carefree, even somewhat willful and lively imperial princess of a few months ago.

The once vibrant spirit has been replaced by a layer of gray weariness, and the dark circles under her eyes, like thick ink, tell the story of countless sleepless and frightened nights.

His face had lost its rosy hue, becoming almost transparently pale, with slightly protruding cheekbones, and he was so thin that he looked as if a gust of wind could blow him over.

That sense of maturity is not the poetry sculpted by time, but the forced aging under the heavy hammer of fate.

For the past six months, her life has been like a small boat tossed into turbulent and unpredictable waves!

During the devastating plague in Jiangnan, she once stepped into the gates of hell and struggled on the edge of death.

He was fortunate enough to have his life extended by the talisman water of the great and virtuous teacher, but in the blink of an eye he became his prisoner, his life and death in the hands of others.

Finally, the imperial army arrived with great difficulty. With filial piety in mind, wanting to bring back the secret treasure for his father, he persuaded the wise teacher to go with him to the legendary cursed place—Dragon Burial Ridge.

However, a sudden and shocking event occurred on Burial Dragon Ridge! The Nine Abyss Rock Prison collapsed, corpses littered the ground, and blood flowed like a river!
Witnessing the imperial reinforcements being crushed like dust by the Great Teacher of Virtue, in order to save the life of the famous constable Canxin, she, a noblewoman, had no choice but to abandon all dignity, kneel at the man's feet, and beg for mercy with tears streaming down her face!
At that moment, the girl's last remaining illusory barrier shattered!
For the first time, she clearly perceived that the Great Teacher's warmth was a mask; beneath it lay a bone-chilling coldness and a blatant disregard for imperial power!
From then on, she developed a deep-seated fear of that great teacher who was as beautiful as an angel but as ruthless as a demon.

She was a real hostage!
Desperate hostages who have given up all hope!

If it only stopped there, perhaps we could still hold onto the hope of being rescued.

Deep down, she firmly believed that her father, the emperor who sat on the dragon throne and held the reins of power, would surely rescue her from this nightmare!
The cruel reality, however, dealt her a fatal blow not long after she was abducted here!
Father... has passed away!

My only and last resort has collapsed!
An overwhelming sense of grief and resentment instantly engulfed his entire body!

She cried and struggled desperately, begging to return to the capital and see her father one last time.

However, all that responded to her was the brutal chains and the dark cell—the Great Teacher coldly threw her in, as if disposing of a troublesome object.

She was only able to see the light of day again after the commotion surrounding the new emperor's ascension to the throne had subsided.

Then, Zhao Xiling suddenly realized that the "cruelty" of the great teacher might be her only way out.

In the capital, her blood relatives, the princes and uncles, were already bloodthirsty for the supreme dragon throne!
After the bloodlines of dozens of noble princes were drained, only one victor, covered in blood and standing amidst mountains of corpses and seas of blood, ascended the throne.

If she had been in the capital at that time, that brutal purge targeting all potential heirs would never have been spared just because she was a woman!
Without power or military authority, she was the weakest and most obstructive link among all the competitors, only fit to become a stepping stone to the throne!
It was the "jinx" in her eyes, the great and wise teacher, who, with his cold-blooded hand of imprisonment, saved her precarious life amidst this bloody and cruel royal massacre!

Her past hatred now seems so absurd and laughable.

Good fortune and misfortune are intertwined; life and death hang by a thread.

The capriciousness of fate is like a child's game, suffocating and unpredictable.

If it weren't for this imposed "calamity," she would have died silently under the blades of her own blood relatives.

A kidnapping attempt, by a twist of fate, turned into a life-saving act for her!

Finally, her hatred for the Great Teacher inexplicably subsided considerably.

And this moment.

The wheel of fate once again pushed her to a crossroads of choice.

A cold and terrifying premonition gripped her.

Because she knew... the true identity of the guest whom the Great Teacher was secretly meeting deep within the hall—

It was a secret envoy sent by the new emperor, Zhao Yu!

Her life and death, her entire future, will most likely be coldly decided behind those tightly closed doors!
"Squeak-"

Like a clarion call tearing apart the silence of fate!
The heavy, carved wooden door of the hall was finally pushed open slowly from the inside with a heart-stopping, hesitant sound.

The talks have ended.

The Great Master, dressed in a yellow Taoist robe and with a handsome face that seemed like an immortal descending to earth, filed out with a man dressed in merchant's everyday clothes and with a solemn expression.

The man nodded slightly to the Great Teacher, his farewell appearing hurried and cautious. He quickly merged into the crowd in the courtyard and soon disappeared from sight.

The great teacher looked indifferent, as if he was about to leave.

Zhao Xiling suddenly mustered her last bit of courage and rushed forward, barely managing to block the awe-inspiring figure.

"Great Master!"

Her voice trembled noticeably, like fallen leaves in the chilly autumn wind.

Even now, she still fears this man from the bottom of her heart.

Ever since returning from Burial Dragon Ridge, her fear has never disappeared.

She wanted to ask, she desperately wanted to know the outcome of the talks—that sword hanging over her head, ready to fall at any moment!

But the words were on the tip of his tongue when an overwhelming fear choked him.

What she feared even more was...

She feared the cold, piercing answer that would plunge her into an abyss of no return.

Tears streamed uncontrollably down her pale cheeks, the salty taste filling her mouth, carrying with it endless sorrow and humiliation.

The glistening tears fell onto the cold floor tiles, spreading out a small, dark stain.

The great teacher lowered his eyes, his calm gaze, which seemed to see right through people, falling on her tear-streaked, despair-filled face.

There was no pity, no mockery in those eyes, only a bottomless abyss.

He paused briefly, his voice devoid of any emotional fluctuation:

"Come in and talk."

Without offering any further explanation, he turned and walked back into the dimly lit hall.

Zhao Xiling's heart pounded. She bit her lower lip, staggered a step to catch up, and slammed the heavy door that had just been opened and seemed to be leaking life shut again!
A soft "click" shut out the noise and sunlight from the outside world, plunging the two back into silence and the shadows of the unknown.

The flickering candlelight in the hall made the tall and perfect figure of the Great Teacher of Virtue appear even more imposing.

He casually sat down on a wide chair, the candlelight illuminating his otherworldly handsome face, adding to his ethereal mystery.

Zhao Xiling felt a mix of emotions.

She couldn't help but recall that half a year ago, in the southern palace, when she was suffering from the plague and waiting for treatment, she had seen the Great Teacher of Virtue sitting under the eaves playing the zither.

The music was melodious, and she possessed an ethereal beauty.

She was also captivated by the man playing the zither under the eaves.

The sun shone warmly then, the palace was quiet and secluded, she was a favored imperial princess, and her father was a towering tree that sheltered her from the wind and rain.

If time could turn back, if everything could start over...

She could have treated the Great Teacher in a completely different, more equal, and even more admiring way, and perhaps... they wouldn't have ended up fighting, holding each other hostage, and being held hostage.

Perhaps... we could even become friends.

And she can safely return to the capital, to be with her father, and to make up for the filial piety she hadn't had a chance to show to her father...

A sharp, throbbing pain suddenly struck, like a cold arrow piercing through the dazed bubble of memory.

She was shocked to realize that she had been indulging in pointless daydreams at this critical moment of life and death!
Cold sweat instantly beaded on his forehead.

She looked up abruptly and realized that the Great Teacher had been watching her intently, his gaze calm and deep, as if he had already seen through all the fluctuations in the depths of her soul.

"Great Master..."

Zhao Xiling forced herself to steady her voice, which was on the verge of collapse. Her nails dug deep into her cold palms, trying to regain a sliver of reason through the sharp pain:
"That person just now... was he the secret envoy of the new emperor Zhao Yu, wasn't he?"

She mustered her courage and peeled back that fragile veil:
"Don't hide it from me! That man... I've seen him in the palace in the capital! He serves in the Dragon Guard!"

The Great Teacher raised an eyebrow almost imperceptibly, and his thin lips slowly curved into a faint smile that could make any woman in the world lose her composure.

That smile was as gentle as jade, like a spring breeze brushing against the ice.

However, this eerie and oppressive atmosphere was more chilling than the sharpest blade.

He did not immediately answer Zhao Xiling's almost desperate question; instead, his gaze passed over her, as if piercing through the heavy beams of the roof:
"Afraid I'm lying?"

His voice carried a hint of gentle teasing, yet it contained an unfathomable meaning:

"Then...why don't you ask her yourself?"

His gaze shifted to a deep shadow in the corner of the hall:
"After all, she's a heartless girl..."

After a brief pause, his clear and melodious tone suddenly turned cold:

"But I was eavesdropping the whole time."

what? !

Zhao Xiling's whole body suddenly trembled violently!
They stared in disbelief at the direction the Great Teacher was pointing!
Almost at the very moment his words fell—

call out!
A gust of wind as light as a falling feather!

A slender yet exceptionally agile figure, like a night owl perched high in the shadows, silently glided down from the eaves and beams of the hall!
It landed silently, as light as a flying catkin.

The newcomer was tall and slender, with a face that appeared to be around forty years old, bright and radiant like the moon. However, a faint, pale red, old knife scar between his brows, like a crack on a piece of fine jade, added an indescribable sense of vicissitude and austerity to his cold and hard face.

A jade hairpin neatly holds a head of dark ebony hair into a meticulously styled high bun. The end of an exquisite silver chain wrapped around the hair is adorned with six miniature, willow-leaf-shaped, sharp, concealed sword-shaped hidden weapons, their cold light gleaming within.

She wore a set of soft rhinoceros armor that clung to her body, its dark gray and bluish-green color perfectly outlining her smooth and explosive waistline.

What's most breathtaking is her eyes!

The pupils were a much lighter color than normal, and in dim light, they shimmered with a bluish-gray luster similar to that of Dushan jade.

However, those jade-like eyes were now filled with intense shock and vigilance, fixed on the composed and virtuous teacher, his hand instinctively resting on the soft blade at his waist.

"Zanxin?!"

Zhao Xiling almost cried out in shock!
This person is none other than one of the Four Great Constables! She regards Canxin as an assistant, even a sister!

"You...how did you get here?!"

Canxin took a deep breath, forcefully suppressing the turbulent waves surging within him.

She thought her stealth skills were unparalleled, and she had made thorough preparations for this eavesdropping, believing her plan to be flawless.

Little did he expect that his proudest actions had already been exposed to the other party's discerning eyes!

A tremendous sense of defeat and the ensuing chill instantly swept over my entire body.

"Great and wise teacher... Your understanding of the Dao is profound, and your insight is like a torch! I, Canxin... am in awe!"

She squeezed out a few words with difficulty, each one uttered between her teeth, her voice unusually dry.

Deep within those eyes, as clear as jade from Dushan Mountain, a stronger sense of vigilance lingered.

The Great Teacher paid no heed to the murderous look in Canxin's eyes, which seemed to be ready to devour anyone.

He leaned back in his chair with a relaxed posture, slightly raising his hand to gesture in Zhao Xiling's direction, but his tone carried an unquestionable implication:
"Since Miss Canxin is a confidante of Her Highness the Princess, and she also heard what was just discussed..."

He gently dusted off the cuffs of his Taoist robe, which were covered in dust.

"Then you should personally recount the details to Her Highness the princess."

This seemingly innocuous sentence was like a key that opened the gates of hell!

Zhao Xiling suddenly turned her head! Her gaze fixed intently on Canxin!
Those eyes, which were originally dim and desperate, suddenly burst forth with a light that was a mixture of endless longing and overwhelming fear!

Her breathing suddenly became rapid, and her body began to tremble slightly uncontrollably.

At this moment, she only believed in Canxin!
We can only rely on the remnant of the heart!
The words uttered from Canxin's mouth will determine whether she sinks into despair or... perhaps there is still a glimmer of hope?
Canxin looked at Zhao Xiling's gaze, which was as intense yet fragile as a drowning person looking for a lifeline, and felt a sudden pang of sadness in his heart, as if his throat was blocked by a wad of cotton soaked in ice water.

She moved her lips a few times, then let out a long, labored sigh.

That sigh carried too many heavy, chilling truths.

"your Highness……"

Canxin's voice was low and hoarse, each word carrying an immense weight:
"The identity of the person who came...is beyond doubt!"

Her eyes were sharp as knives:

"It was that heartless scoundrel Zhao Yu... a lackey sent to deliver a secret message!"

Zhao Xiling's body swayed violently, and Canxin quickly stepped forward, instinctively wanting to help her up.

“Decree…speaking…”

Canxin paused, but ultimately decided to pierce through this last thin layer of ice:
"If the Great Teacher dares to... use the princess's identity... to plot rebellion and disrupt the country!"

Her voice suddenly turned cold, suppressing her anger:

"The Great Qian army will sweep away the Taiping Dao with overwhelming force, leaving no one alive! It will annihilate their very foundations!"

The last flicker of hope in Zhao Xiling's eyes seemed to be extinguished by those words! Her body almost collapsed!
Before Canxin could finish speaking, that chilling twist followed immediately:

"on the contrary……"

"If the Great and Wise Teacher could make Princess Zhao's bloodline... disappear......"

Canxin practically spat out those two cruel words through gritted teeth!
"Zhao Yu will act in the name of the new emperor..."

"The Great Teacher is hereby granted the title of 'National Preceptor'! The Way of Great Peace is hereby established as the 'State Religion'!"

The last two words struck Zhao Xiling's already fragile defenses like a thunderbolt from the heavens!
Pfft!
Zhao Xiling's legs could no longer support her body weight, and she collapsed to the ground as if all her muscles and bones had been removed.

His face was ashen!

The faint glimmer of hope in his eyes was completely swallowed up by the dark and cold abyss of despair!

disappear……

What "gentle," what "official," what grand and respectable words!

Its essence is to eliminate her!

Complete annihilation, from the physical body to any trace of existence!
What a perfectly valid reason!

She is the only direct descendant of the late emperor and the most legitimate heir in law!
Every extra breath Zhao Xiling takes in this world is the most powerful indictment of the new emperor's legitimacy!
She is a banner that all opponents and critics can use to make a big fuss.

She's the one blocking the path to a secure throne!
Only if she remains silent forever can Zhao Yu sit firmly on that dragon throne stained with the blood of his princes and uncles!
Let the doubts disappear! Let the discontent disappear! Let everything that is out of place... disappear! As long as she dies... all the doubts will lose their foundation and gradually subside.

Only then can Zhao Yu truly sit securely and firmly on the throne!
An endless chill seeped into every part of my body from the top of my head.

At this moment, Zhao Xiling's mind experienced an unusual clarity:

Finished!

It's all over!

She raised her empty eyes to look at the handsome yet cold face of the Great Teacher.

She knew better than anyone else the Great Teacher's unwavering devotion to the Way of Peace and his ideal of "Yellow Heaven"!

Elevating the Way of Peace to the pinnacle of the state religion! This is an irresistible and powerful temptation that caters to their desires!

Moreover, although the Taiping Dao seems powerful at this moment, it is actually like a rootless duckweed. How can it compete with the entire Daqian Dynasty, which is ready to be integrated and sharpening its knives?

Agreeing to the conditions is nothing more than removing a pawn that has already been placed on the chessboard with a flick of the wrist!
All benefits and no harm!
In this world...

What powerful figure would refuse such immense wealth that is readily available and can spare them from the ravages of war?!
The Great Teacher has no reason to refuse the new emperor's secret decree!

Canxin also understood this cruel yet simple logic.

In the deathly despair and silence, her eyes suddenly became as sharp as tempered iron!

"Zheng!"

A faint, almost inaudible metallic clang pierced the stagnant air!
With a shift of her body, she stood firmly and resolutely in front of the limp Zhao Xiling, like the hardest rock!
No words were spoken!
But that upright, taut body, the slightly bent knees, the fists clenched so tightly the knuckles turned white, and those jade-gray eyes radiating a resolute fighting spirit—

They are all issuing the most resounding declarations!

"Great Master!"

Canxin's voice was icy cold, carrying a chilling determination as if everything was going to perish, meeting the calm gaze of the Great Teacher of Virtue without the slightest fear.

"I know my own limitations... With my meager martial arts skills, I am no match for you!"

She slowly raised her right palm, and a faint, sharp energy began to flow from her fingertips:
"but!"

"Who dares to harm my princess in the slightest—"

The words suddenly rose in pitch, like metal scraping against a whetstone:
"It must begin with..."

"On my bones..."

"Step! Over! It!!!"

Just as the atmosphere was tense, filled with murderous intent, and the air seemed to solidify into a heavy, suffocating weight, so heavy that it was impossible to breathe!

Squeak—! !!!

A sharp, wild, and violent roar!

Like the howl of a demon from purgatory!
At a speed that makes your scalp crawl!

It suddenly rang out!

fire!
A wildly burning "fire"!
Like a hellfire breaking free from its restraints, it moved with lightning speed and thunderous force! Bang! A loud explosion shattered the heavy, carved wooden window frame!
A fierce wind raged, and the candlelight flickered, threatening to go out!
A violent, crimson figure, accompanied by a heart-palpitating wave of scorching heat and a fierce aura, crashed down in the very center of the hall!
It was that one...

To be by the side of the great and wise teacher...

Having absorbed the nourishment of 'divine blood,' it's as if it's become a demon...

Jade-faced Fire Monkey!

The long, crimson hairs looked like burning needles!
Its size has increased by nearly half since Zhao Xiling first saw it at the palace!

The claws at the ends of the thick arms gleamed with a cold light, like black iron hooks forged and tempered!

What's most chilling is its pair of ferocious eyes!

The depths of his pupils were no longer the chaos of ordinary beasts, but rather swirling with a blazing light like hellish lava!

At this moment, those ferocious beastly eyes were locked on Canxin!

A foul stench filled the air!

It suddenly opened its wide mouth, revealing a mouthful of fangs that were interlocked like daggers!

A sharp, piercing roar, filled with warning and absolute killing intent, kept erupting from deep within his throat!
It is making a silent declaration!
Anything that dares to threaten its master will be torn to shreds!
Canxin's heart felt as if it had been suddenly gripped by a cold, ghostly claw!

Is this... still that same agile but not terrifying monkey from before?

Do not!
The overwhelming sense of oppression that came over her, far exceeding her understanding of martial arts, actually made her tremble from the very core of her being!

During the upheaval at Burial Dragon Ridge, it somehow managed to steal a portion of the "divine blood" from a young eunuch named Zhao Bao, after which the Jade-Faced Fire Monkey began its terrifying transformation.

Its entire body was shedding large patches of skin and fur, revealing a jagged, iron-scale-like blackish-red keratin layer underneath, making it ugly and terrifying, almost unrecognizable as a monkey.

However, after enduring that hellish transformation, the Jade-Faced Fire Monkey was reborn from the ashes...

The hair regained its luster! Its red color deepened even further! It became translucent! Like flowing blood!
The sheer size increase brought a sense of power akin to that of a small, ferocious beast! A deep, savage aura, seemingly containing the power of a volcanic eruption, was now emanating unrestrainedly!

This is no longer a spirit beast!
It's a demon!
Canxin had no doubt that at this moment, she...

I'm afraid I'm no match for this terrifying monkey!

As the terrifying creature that symbolized the end appeared, the last trace of color drained from Zhao Xiling's face.

However, a deep-rooted sense of pride was suddenly ignited in the face of adversity!

She gritted her teeth and struggled with all her might to stand up!
Despite his physical exhaustion and heaviness, he kept his back ramrod straight!
"enough!"

Her voice trembled slightly with excitement, yet it was filled with the last stubbornness and dignity of her royal bloodline:
"This Empress—"

She raised her snow-white face, her gaze resolute as she looked at the lofty and wise teacher, no longer glancing at the ferocious monkey:

"As the daughter of an emperor! A descendant of dragons and phoenixes! How could I... end up dying at the hands of beasts?"

That indomitable spirit, seemingly ready to die, momentarily overshadowed the fragility conveyed by her emaciated figure:
"Great Master!"

"I... ask for three feet of white silk! Or... a cup of poisoned wine!"

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath of the cold, fishy air:
"After my death..."

Her voice suddenly took on a mournful, almost pleading tone:

"I earnestly hope that the Great and Wise Teacher will have mercy on me... and take this useless body of mine..."

"Delivered to... the broken heart!"

"Have her take me back to the imperial mausoleum and bury me in the ancestral land of the Zhao family..."

The sound was like a broken string, each word filled with tears of blood.

Canxin felt as if he had been struck in the chest with a heavy hammer; his eyes instantly became bloodshot, and tears almost welled up in his eyes!

The princess's words clearly indicate that she knows she is doomed to die, yet she is willing to use her own body to carve out a way out for her, her protector, in a desperate situation!
This affection...

"Princess!!"

With a choked sob and a roar, Canxin knelt down and begged to die with him.

"Tsk."

A distinct click of the tongue, tinged with helplessness and a hint of mockery, rang out from the Great Teacher's lips.

He shook his head slightly, as if looking at two children having a tiff.

"OK OK."

His tone was relaxed, even carrying a hint of elder-like teasing.

"You two..."

He stepped forward slowly, his gaze sweeping over Zhao Xiling's stubborn, tearful eyes and her heart-wrenching, almost broken expression.

"Stop acting out those tragic scenes from storybooks here."

He suddenly smiled, a smile that carried a hint of warmth.

"If Zhao Yu had offered such wonderful terms before we even got to know each other well..."

"I might consider agreeing."

His tone suddenly changed, becoming lazy and casual:

"But now..."

His gaze fell on Zhao Xiling's tear-streaked face, and his tone unusually warm:
"We've known each other for a long time, so we're all familiar with each other."

He shrugged, his gesture casual and relaxed.
How could I possibly... bring myself to kill him?

The words drifted into the hall.

A dead silence.

Zhao Xiling was stunned.

Canxin was completely stunned.

Two pairs of eyes, which had been empty with despair, were now filled with overwhelming shock and disbelief!

It was as if I had heard the most absurd joke in the world!
Reluctant to kill?

What did the Great Teacher say?

That great and virtuous teacher who once treated human life like dirt at Burial Dragon Ridge, who could splatter blood with a laugh and was as ruthless as a three-armed demon?!

Does he value relationships and personal connections?

Absurd! Utterly absurd!

Can……

His nonchalant tone and casual demeanor... didn't seem like a delaying tactic to manipulate people's hearts at all!
A faint, almost imperceptible glimmer of hope, like a star breaking through the dark clouds, suddenly shone in Zhao Xiling's lifeless heart.

The light was faint, yet it flickered and shimmered constantly.

Zhao Xiling swallowed hard, feeling a burning sensation in her throat.

She forced down her racing heart, which was pounding like a runaway horse, and took a step forward, her voice trembling slightly, without her even realizing it:

"Great and wise teacher...is this really true?"

"If you don't kill me, aren't you afraid... you'll regret it?"

Her reason still reminded her of the horror of reality:
"Zhao Yu promised you the position of 'Imperial Preceptor' and the prestige of 'State Religion'..."

She forced a bitter smile.

"These things, I absolutely... cannot give you!"

The Great Teacher still wore that enigmatic smile.

He suddenly took a step and walked towards Zhao Xiling.

His steps were unhurried, yet they carried an invisible, overwhelming pressure.

His shadow completely covered Zhao Xiling's petite and frail body.

Tall and slender, like a descending deity, or a demon lord who controls everything.

He raised his hand.

That hand had well-proportioned joints and fingers as slender as bamboo; it had once played heavenly music on the zither.

Now, this perfect palm, carrying undeniable power, pressed firmly against the center of Zhao Xiling's smooth yet icy brow with a "plop" sound!
The slightly cool touch sent a shiver down Zhao Xiling's spine, and she couldn't muster the slightest thought of resistance.

"Zhao Xiling".

The voice of the Great Teacher suddenly became incredibly clear and solemn.

He gazed into her eyes, his gaze seemingly trying to pierce through the glistening tear film and reach the deepest part of her soul.

"you……"

"It is Huang Tian... the chosen one!"

These words seemed to possess some strange power, echoing deeply in the silent hall.

"last night……"

His voice was low, as if conveying some kind of divine revelation:
"A divine decree has been issued from Heaven..."

The candlelight danced across his handsome profile, outlining a mysterious and unpredictable silhouette.

"It is said that this woman possesses..."

"The countenance of an emperor!"

boom--!
The last four words!

It was nothing short of divine thunder from the heavens!
Emperor! King! Prime Minister!
It pierced straight into the minds of Zhao Xiling and Canxin!
All the confusion, despair, and shock were instantly washed away by this earth-shattering prophecy!

leftover……

Only that which is enough to shatter the heart...

Utter horror!!!

He wanted to... help her up!
He wants to use her! To hold her hostage! To raise up Zhao Xiling, this long-forgotten face...

The banner of the late emperor's only bloodline!
At this momentous time when a new emperor has just ascended the throne, and undercurrents are surging!

Go...fight for it! That supreme throne?!
This is beyond insanity!
This is a gamble that puts the entire Great Qian Dynasty, the entire world, on the table...

A gamble of epic proportions!!!

Zhao Xiling's body began to tremble violently without her noticing!
Like a fragile willow in a storm!

The Great Teacher's icy finger remained pressed against her brow, seemingly carrying the dual power of destruction and rebirth.

"you……"

Zhao Xiling's voice became extremely fragile, yet it carried a tentative, trembling emotion that she herself could not understand:
"How...can I...trust you?"

She subconsciously shrank her neck slightly, trying to escape the fingers that controlled her fate.

The Great Teacher's expression remained completely unchanged.

That fingertip, carrying an irresistible pressure, pressed forward firmly once more, steadily stopping her attempt to retreat!

He even increased the force, making her feel a clear pressure between her eyebrows!

He leaned down slightly, closing the distance, his deep, star-like eyes locked onto Zhao Xiling's terrified and bewildered pupils.

Where their eyes met, an invisible vortex seemed to form, carrying a captivating yet irresistible resolve.

"If you..."

His voice, like the enchanting sound of an ancient bell, struck Zhao Xiling's fragile yet violently beating heart, word by word:

"I sincerely take refuge in the Yellow Heaven..."

"May Heaven help you!!"

Help—you—

These two words seem to contain an immense and earth-shattering power!
Zhao Xiling felt her burning blood rush to her head, only to flow back down to her limbs in the next second!
A violent wave of dizziness swept over me!

Believe... or not believe?
To live... or to die?

Retreat means falling into an abyss... retreat means being reduced to nothing!
Enter……

If we advance...

The Nine-Five Dragon Throne!

Reshape the world!

Take control of your destiny!
Find out the truth behind the Emperor's serious illness and even his death!
Take back everything that perhaps... belonged to her!
A tremendous temptation! Like the devil's whisper! It stirred up an unprecedented tidal wave in the sea of her heart!
It almost completely overturned that last shred of reason!
She didn't want to die!

Why should she die?!

She will make those who see her as a nuisance and wish for her demise...

Pay the price!

The price paid in blood!!!

"Pfft!"

Zhao Xiling suddenly broke free from the Great Teacher's fingers!
She took a step back!
Just as Canxin cried out in surprise!

A subtle, unfathomable glint flashed in the eyes of the Great Teacher!

Just as the enraged and ferocious Jade-Faced Fire Monkey bared its teeth and was about to pounce!
The girl, dressed in mourning clothes, with a sorrowful face...

His knees slammed heavily onto the cold, hard floor tiles!
It emitted a dull echo!

Her back was straight, like an unyielding bamboo.

On his pale and emaciated face, there was no trace of confusion or fear!
Instead……

It's a desperate gamble, a burning of the past...

A resolute light!

"Believer..."

Her voice was crystal clear, carrying a chilling power that cut off all escape routes:
"Zhao Xiling!!!"

The name echoed heavily in the empty hall.

"I humbly beseech Heaven's protection!"

Her head, finally, devoutly...

Decline!

His fair forehead was heavily...