Sword from the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 172 Past Events Each Have Their Own Path

The dark, deep underground river made a dull sound as the water flowed against the rock walls.

The bright yellow crystal ball incorporated a soft light into the rushing water, turning it into a conspicuous trail that floated and sank with the blue and white water.

The two were pressed close together.

And the faster the current, the tighter they hold on.

At first, they kept their eyes open and looked at each other, but later, Shi Qingxuan relaxed and closed her eyes.

Her mind flashed back to her experiences in Sichuan and Chongqing over the past two months.

It begins with a gourd of wine at Qingzhu Xiaozhu, then progresses to the assassination attempt at the Fan family mansion and the perfunctory painting. From the true demons of the Sichuan gang to the swordsmen of Mount Emei, there are also Taoist discussions, the ancient village of Bameng, and the former residence of Dashi.
As she thought about it, a strange feeling arose in her heart, and she unconsciously tightened her arms around Zhou Yi.

Not long after, I heard the sound of rushing water.

I felt a sensation of falling.

After a while, the feeling of confinement disappeared, and we arrived at an extremely spacious place where the water was still flowing, but the direction seemed to be reversed.

The strong light from the outside world shining into the water made the relic appear much dimmer.

Suddenly stimulated by sunlight.

People who spend a lot of time in dim underground spaces can sense it even with their eyes closed.

As it approaches the water surface, the vortex force gradually decreases.

He pushed off the whirlpool, floated to the surface, his head broke the surface, and he could breathe through his nose.

Both Zhou Yi and Shi Qingxuan involuntarily took a deep breath.

Shi Qingxuan opened her eyes and met Zhou Yi's gaze, who was standing right in front of her.

At this moment, time seemed to stand still.

The experience of going from underwater to above water is completely different.

Especially the occasional touch of the nose, the warm breaths mingling together.

Zhou Yi saw her blink, shake off the water droplets from her long eyelashes, and a small hand gently pat his chest, stirring up ripples.

Only then did their lips part slightly and move back.

But when he looked at the girl in his arms, a strange look suddenly appeared on his face.

Her face was somewhat similar to before, but suddenly she had a beautiful, delicate face that was breathtakingly gorgeous. Her wet hair swirled and clung to her cheeks, exuding a charming and graceful air, yet somehow preventing anyone from having any romantic thoughts.

Seeing Zhou Yi's expression, Shi Qingxuan reached out and touched her face.

She ruffled a few strands of hair, then realized what was happening.

Her disguise was ruined by the rushing water, revealing her unparalleled beauty.

Zhou Yi smiled and said, "Are you Qingxuan, young lady? Did I grab the wrong person?"

"No, no, please stop looking."

Shi Qingxuan gave him a reproachful look, raised her hand and slapped the water, splashing water onto him.

Then, he immediately regained his cautious demeanor and gestured towards the relic in his hand.

"Hurry up, they'll catch up."

Zhou Yi has another big problem: he needs to find a copper pot filled with mercury to isolate himself from other people's senses.

At this moment, while channeling his true energy to probe the relic, he also surveyed the surrounding environment.

"This is the main channel of the Jinjiang River, but it is downstream. The Evil Emperor Temple is more than ten miles away from here."

After Shi Qingxuan finished speaking, she suddenly noticed a strange expression on Zhou Yi's face.

She looked at the Evil Emperor's Relic and felt a strong spiritual impact, but since she didn't touch it, it had little effect on her.

The water began to swirl again, and from them, huge waves were pushed outwards in all directions!
The light within the yellow crystal sphere was fading, and the mental impact was weakening.

Zhou Yi is absorbing the energy from the relic!

Logically speaking, without a secret method, it is impossible not only to store primordial energy into primordial essence, but also to absorb the primordial essence within it.

Apart from Xiang Yutian, none of the other evil emperors could do it.

Thinking about all the amazing things that happened to him, Shi Qingxuan was able to accept it quickly.

However, seeing that his Yangbai, Shangguan, and Tinghui acupoints were throbbing violently from time to time, she immediately frowned.

Top martial arts masters each possess exquisite control over their internal energy. Unless they are engaged in fierce combat with an enemy or are seriously injured, it is highly unusual for them to lose control of their internal energy.

Shi Qingxuan noticed that several more red lights flashed across Zhou Yi's eyes, giving off an extremely eerie feeling.

That was a violent spiritual force generated by the collision of multiple spirits. Ordinary martial artists could not touch it, let alone try to absorb the relic while ignoring the interference of these chaotic spirits.

If one is not careful, there could be terrible situations such as mental breakdown or personality split.

Thinking of some of the things her mother had said before she passed away, even she, with her indifferent nature, couldn't help but worry about him.

Is Shi Zhixuan's tragedy about to repeat itself?
"Zhou Yi."

Shi Qingxuan called out softly, feeling a little regretful for bringing the relic.

Suddenly, Zhou Yi, whose pupils glowed red, turned his head and glanced at her. His expression was somewhat sinister, even radiating a chilling spiritual aura, but his smile was quite gentle.

Zhou Yi didn't speak, and his smile faded.

He was so engrossed in interacting with the Evil Emperor's relic that he dared not be careless in the slightest.

He naturally didn't know the secret method for extracting primordial essence.

However, his profound energy could easily penetrate into the relic. Now, it transformed into a medium, and he injected his substantial spirit into it, making the vital energy full of vitality, and thus bringing out the primordial essence from the relic.

And those diverse and complex ideas also rushed in.

The impact was immense; even he felt as if he were walking on thin ice.

Through his precise control over vital energy, he knew exactly where the upper limit was at this moment.

As his blood and qi surged throughout his body, Zhou Yi's spirit and energy were jolted, and a wave of pain washed over him. He decisively severed the connection.

He had already absorbed most of the primordial essence from this relic.

Although it is not as good as the one underground in Chang'an, it is still very beneficial.

Zhou Yi grabbed the relic, unleashed a powerful force, and hurled it downstream of the Jinjiang River.

The relic slipped from his hand, flashing with light, seemingly harboring resentment at his heartless abandonment.

"Let's go quickly."

"Okay, I'll give you directions."

Just like when they fled to Mount Emei, Shi Qingxuan was carried out of the water by Zhou Yi, and they crossed the river on foot, heading upstream of the Jinjiang River.

"Where are you going?"

"Just find a quiet place."

At this time, they were located in the northwest of Chengdu. Shi Qingxuan pointed to the east and said, "Go to Phoenix Mountain."

On the western bank of the Taiyangxi River at the eastern foot of Phoenix Mountain, north of Chengdu, lies a secluded valley, where she lived in her secluded woodland retreat.
Zhou Yi headed west towards the Duofu Plain, where he saw several majestic peaks, each hundreds of feet high, stretching for dozens of miles. The surrounding peaks clustered together, giving the main peak the feeling of rising abruptly from the ground, resembling a phoenix spreading its wings.

Phoenix Mountain got its name from this.

Shi Qingxuan kept pointing the way, leading him along shortcuts and paths, through ancient trees covering the mountains, across a maple forest, and then across a gorge, where the scenery suddenly changed.

The waterfalls cascade down, seemingly blocking the way, but then reveal a hidden paradise.

Surrounded by mountains, a small valley is hidden in the wilderness and forest. It is hard for ordinary people to imagine that such a secluded paradise exists deep in the mountains.

Before reaching Xiaogu, Zhou Yi saw a small stone house with a gravel path leading forward.

"That is the place where Yue Shan built his hut and lived out his days."

After suffering a crushing defeat at the hands of "Heavenly Blade" Song Que, the tyrant Yue Shan was filled with resentment. This great master of swordsmanship, burdened with disappointment, hatred, and shame, was buried in the wilderness, finding peace but also a touch of desolation.

But that's the nature of martial arts battles; the strongest fist is the hardest weapon.

Both being masters of the sword, Yue Shan's hero was cleaved to pieces by the Heavenly Blade.

Even with all the knowledge I've acquired in my life, I'm still not qualified to witness the complete Nine Blades of Heavenly Inquiry.

Zhou Yi put Shi Qingxuan down and instead of heading towards Yue Shan's stone house, they walked deeper into the valley and eventually entered an elegant and tidy wooden house.

This place is larger than the stone house near the Evil Emperor Temple, and it doesn't look like it has been ransacked.

Shi Qingxuan lifted a bamboo curtain.

Inside, there was a small cubicle filled with various musical instrument scores, mechanical diagrams, and medical and miscellaneous medical texts.

This rich collection of books reflects her refined taste; even in seclusion, she found great joy.

She settled Zhou Yi in and then changed her clothes.

Zhou Yi used his inner energy to dry his clothes and prepared to meditate.

Hearing footsteps approaching from outside, the bamboo curtain was lifted, revealing a graceful and elegant young woman. She was still wearing a blue floral print dress.

Perhaps because she was back in her own home, her expression was lighter, and there was a hint of visible joy.

How long will your training last this time?

"It will probably take some time."

Zhou Yi replied, a thoughtful expression on his face. Shi Qingxuan noticed this and offered some words of comfort:

"Just focus on your training. No one will disturb you here. And there's no need to worry about Chengdu. The three forces of Ba Meng, Chuanbang Duzunbao are united now, making it easier to handle matters in Bashu than ever before."

She added, "I need to tell you something. I'm going to Chengdu to buy some daily necessities, and I can pass it on for you."

Zhou Yi thought for a moment and said, "No need."

Let it go for a while, and then go back and take a look; that will give you a better idea of ​​Sichuan's attitude.

This can be seen as my final test for them before I leave Sichuan.

Especially the Duzunbao.

The Buddhist sect will definitely go back to find Jie Hui. Hopefully, this old sycophant will keep his promise and not betray them suddenly.

We should discuss the situation in Chengdu with Xu Xingzhi and Li Jing.

Now that we control Sichuan and Chongqing, the upper reaches of the Yangtze River will only provide assistance and pose no further threat.

We can take action against Xiao Xian and his gang now.

Zhou Yi briefly planned his itinerary after leaving Sichuan.

Seeing him deep in thought, Shi Qingxuan decided not to disturb him further.

Before the bamboo curtain was even lowered, he said again, "It's very dangerous now. You should go to Chengdu in a few days."

Shi Qingxuan turned to leave, and her clear voice drifted in: "Your lightness skill is very high, but mine is not bad either, and I know the way very well."

As Zhou Yi heard her footsteps fading into the distance, he actually left the valley.
Not long after Zhou Yi left the underground river beneath the Evil Emperor Temple, people began to emerge in many places downstream of the Jinjiang River.

They emerged from the whirlpool, no longer on the same stretch of the river.

For the vast majority of martial arts practitioners, they had no idea where the relic had gone; they simply went to investigate based on the sounds of the battle around them.

A considerable number of people also left the Evil Emperor Temple and returned to various counties in Sichuan and Chongqing on their own.

Some people, after regaining their composure and calming down, realized they had been given a second chance at life.

Some people have some understanding of martial arts, and they know there's no chance to take advantage of the chaos, so they're unwilling to fight to the death anymore.

Hearing the huge commotion of the battle downstream, apart from the onlookers, only a very few fanatics were still eager to seize the relic.

Of course, there are also some people who remain underground in the Evil Emperor's Temple.
Downstream of the Jinjiang River, a short, stout man who looked similar to Zhou Laotan emerged from the water, his face beaming with ecstasy.

Dozens of True Demons from the Coffin Palace who were waiting nearby came to their aid.

They brought a heavy coffin.

Inside the coffin was a bronze jar.

Zhou Laofang carefully placed the yellow crystal ball into the copper pot, then closed the coffin. He then separated from the True Demon of the Coffin Palace and left Bashu first.

Only then did Old Zhou return to the battlefield.

When You Niaojuan and the others saw Zhou Laofang, they exchanged glances and then tried to use a secret method to sense the relic.

He immediately realized he had succeeded!
At this point, disregarding Abbess Yixin, Fan Qinghui, and others, they decisively withdrew from Jinjiang.

The experts from the Coffin Palace gathered together and retreated in a coordinated manner.

Once we return to Champion City, with tens of thousands of troops, we won't have to worry about anyone else trying to steal the relics.

Old Master Zhou sighed and withdrew, but the Buddhist monks pursued him all the way.

However, due to the delays of some true demons, Master Yixin and the others eventually gave up.

Looking in the direction where Old Zhou had retreated, Fan Qinghui said:
"It seems they've obtained the relic."

The old nun Yixin frowned: "The Evil Extreme Sect is also a huge threat. If the relic falls into their hands, the harm it causes may not be less than that caused by Shi Zhixuan and Zhu Yuyan."

"but."

Her face darkened: "I'm more concerned about Zhou Yi's identity. How does he know so much about the secrets of the Evil Extreme Sect?"

"Could he actually be a member of the Demonic Sect?"

At this point, Old Ni snorted, "Probably another Shi Zhixuan."

Everyone else understood what she meant.

Shi Zhixuan deceived the two holy monks, Daoxin and Jiaxiang, by practicing both Buddhist and demonic cultivation. It wouldn't be surprising if another one were to practice both Taoist and demonic cultivation now.

As soon as Master Daoxin arrived, he heard the old nun Yixin complaining.

He wasn't angry; his long white eyebrows were full of smiles: "Does Master Yixin have someone in the Daoist sect who, like the old bald man, mistakes people and has poor eyesight?"

He focused on shaking the water off his whisk and said, "This matter has nothing to do with the Holy Monk. It's just that Shi Zhixuan is extremely cunning, and this Zhou boy is even more cunning."

Master Daoxin smiled kindly: "I think he is naturally honest and not that bad."

"I suppose you've investigated this yourself; Zhou hasn't done anything wrong."

The old nun's vigilance grew even stronger:

"You can know a person's face but not their heart. In my humble opinion, this person's cunning surpasses even that of Shi Zhixuan. Once he truly gains power, he will reveal his true colors. For example, the secrets of the Evil Extreme Sect and the War God Temple—if he had no connection with the Demonic Sect, how could he know them so clearly?"

Shi Feixuan, who had remained silent until now, said:
“Grandmaster Uncle, this matter may be related to the lineage of the Way of Peace. If Sun En left behind secret records like our predecessors, it would be easy to explain why he knows these secrets.”

Celestial Master Sun En was a figure at the level of breaking through the void.

Whether it's the Evil Emperor or the predecessors of Cihang Jingzhai, they must avoid his sharp edge.

The old nun was deep in thought, her face slightly darkened.

The Celestial Masters of the Taiping Dao, who have made a name for themselves, are all terrifyingly powerful. Sun En is one such example, and so is this young man surnamed Zhou.

Moreover, he is exceptionally talented, and his future is unpredictable.

The old nun glanced at Shi Feixuan and saw that she looked perfectly normal, unaffected by the recent battles, and her ethereal and otherworldly aura remained undiminished. She couldn't help but nod in approval.

She praised this successor in every way, and his progress in cultivating the Sword Dao Embryo was unprecedented. It was just a pity that such a troublesome person had appeared in the world.

Otherwise, an old-fashioned person like her would never need to leave Zhongnan Mountain.

The influence of this generation's successor is more than enough.

Realizing he had gone astray, Old Ni brought the matter back to the main point: "Feixuan, your thinking is still too simplistic."

"Take Yang Guang, for example. Before becoming emperor, he pretended to be a wise ruler, which ultimately led to the collapse of the powerful Sui Dynasty and the suffering of countless people in the chaos. We, on the other hand, have the responsibility to restore order to the world."

Shi Feixuan remembered those words.

A slightly smiling face appeared in her mind, and she was eager to know how he would answer this question.

The saintess controlled her expression well; she was seriously thinking about the person she couldn't forget, but in the eyes of the old nun Yixin...

The current successor is quite absorbed in receiving her guidance.

So they adopted a compassionate and sympathetic demeanor:
"Only by following the right path can we create a prosperous era. Taking a detour and then turning back will only lead to the same result, and will only cause more people to suffer."

She flicked her whisk and looked at the assembled holy monks:
"Knowing that an unprecedented golden age is coming, we must persevere to the end."

Master Jiaxiang understood what she was saying and chanted a Buddhist prayer.

"What does the nun intend to do?"

Fan Qinghui followed everyone's gaze and looked at Yixin. The old nun slowly uttered three words: "He Shi Bi".

Everyone is enlightened.

The old nun's gaze fell on the Holy Maiden: "Feixuan, when we return to Dongdu, I will teach you how to do it. That place will no longer be a place where the Zhou family's word is law." "Yes, Grandmaster Uncle."

She responded softly, and in the old nun's eyes, she was indeed obedient and well-behaved.

He couldn't help but give Fan Qinghui an admiring look.

It roughly means, "You've taught your apprentice well."

Seeing their expressions, Master Daoxin stopped talking about it and instead pulled the old monk Zhenyan aside to discuss Buddhist hand seals and compare them with the stone statues below the Evil Emperor Temple.

The Buddhist monks did not immediately leave Sichuan and Chongqing, but instead returned to Duzun Fort.

After a period of great chaos, Duzun Fortress returned to stability at a speed that exceeded everyone's expectations.

When Fan Qinghui and the others arrived at Duzun Fort, Xie Wenlong, who had received the news in advance, personally went out of the city to greet them. Song Yuhua accompanied him.

The two were very enthusiastic, but this enthusiasm stemmed solely from respect for martial arts elders, a stark contrast to Jie Hui's attitude.

Xie Wenlong has become the lord of the fortress, appointed by Xie Hui himself.

The die is cast, and there's no going back.

"Is the relationship between the Song clan leader and Grand Commander Zhou very deep?"

Song Yuhua looked at the old lady who had spoken and said truthfully, "My father sent a letter, discussing the struggle for supremacy among heroes and evaluating the world's heroes, with the Grand Commander standing out from the crowd."

With just that one sentence, Master Yixin showed a troubled expression, as if creditors had come knocking on her door.

The fact that Song Que could praise someone like that shows how much he admires them.

The Song Clan leader and the Zhou Grand Commander—if these two were to join forces, they would be truly terrifying.

Song Que's lightness skill was somewhat lacking, but he was the number one swordsman in the world.

When the Heavenly Blade is unleashed, death or serious injury is the only outcome.

Zhou Yi is young and his skills are somewhat lacking, but his lightness skill is the best in the world.

If they join forces, how could figures like Ba Dao, Tian Jun, and Ren Shaoming have any chance of escaping?

The old nun kept pondering in her heart that the two martial arts holy lands might be facing their greatest challenge to date.

Not long after entering Duzun Fortress, Xie Wenlong informed them that the Li clan's people had already left.

Li Yuanji appears fierce and imposing, his reputation for the Fiery Horse Spear renowned throughout Guanzhong. In reality, however, he's a cowardly show-off, even less capable than Wu Zun's younger brother, Dun Yugu.

Having suffered a loss at the hands of the Grand Commander, saving face was out of the question; escaping was the priority.

Upon observation, Jie Wenlong found that Li Yuanji's disheveled appearance had not affected the Buddhist masters' attitude towards the Li clan.

However, Fan Qinghui took her leave.

Before leaving, Master Fanzhai met with Xie Hui again in the inner fort.

That night, Xie Hui looked up at the waning moon in the sky.

Looking at the beautiful face of the Master of the Brahma Temple, Jie Hui's tall and robust body shrank slightly inward, no longer as relaxed as before, and he lost the domineering aura that once dominated Sichuan and Chongqing.

"Qinghui, I've disappointed you."

Fan Qinghui shook her head: "I've troubled you on this trip, Brother Jie. How are your injuries?"

As she spoke, she took out a small bottle containing elixirs used by Cihang Jingzhai to treat internal injuries.

Jie Hui did not refuse:

"His life is not in danger, but he needs some time to recover. From now on, I will also cultivate my character and temperament like Qinghui."

He added:
"Don't worry, I promised to keep what Master Yixin told me a secret, so I won't tell anyone."

"but"

Fan Qinghui looked up at him. Jie Hui's tiger-like eyes sharpened for a moment, but softened when they met Fan Qinghui's gaze.

"I see that this Grand Commander is not someone to be trifled with. If you fight him, you will have to exhaust your resources. Once you lose, both Cihang Jingzhai and Jingnian Chan Temple will probably be crippled."

Fan Qinghui asked, "Why do you think we will lose, Brother Jie?"

Jie Hui said, "I do believe in this so-called destiny, but I have some doubts."

"First is Yuan Tiangang's attitude. This Taoist master never interferes in the conflicts of the martial arts world, let alone the struggle for hegemony in chaotic times. Yet he is willing to give a prophecy for Grand Commander Zhou. Moreover, Master Yuan's divination and fortune-telling are extremely accurate."

"The second one is Zhou Yi."

Fan Qinghui listened attentively, and Jie Hui continued:
"From what I understand, he has clear likes and dislikes, and doesn't seem like a hypocrite. He is also good to the people. What's more valuable is that he doesn't have any condescending attitude."

The martial arts judge let out a breath and revealed his true feelings to Fan Qinghui for the first time:
"This person has the appearance of a benevolent ruler, and is kind and gentle. If it weren't for you, not to mention Abbess Yixin, even if the entire foundation of Emperor Ta Peak in Zhongnan Mountain were to be revealed, I would not have sided with the Li family."

Why don't you change your attitude and try supporting him?

"If you do this, the world will soon be at peace, and even the chaos in the martial arts world will be quelled."

Fan Qinghui shook her head: "Those who know the truth are unwilling to make mistakes."

"Brother Jie, I hope we can meet again in an unprecedentedly prosperous era."

Jie Hui nodded: "Okay."

Fan Qinghui did not linger, leaving Jie Hui with a smile that could heal his wounded heart, and slowly walked out of his sight.

With his beloved gone, Jie Hui felt a sense of loss.

Facing the head of Cihang Jingzhai, he tried his best to restrain himself and dared not overstep his bounds, lest he never have the chance to meet again.

When I feel empty inside, I fill the void with Fan Qinghui's last words.

"An unprecedented golden age."

I thought about it for a long time in the inner fortress.

Afterwards, Xie Wenlong arrived at the inner fort and saw his father, who looked grief-stricken.

He was about to report that the Buddhist monks had left Duzun Fort.

Xie Hui spoke first: "Where is Grand Commander Zhou?"

Xie Wenlong said, "I heard that they have come out of the Evil Emperor Temple, but have not returned to the city yet."

He added, "Father, did Master Fanzhai ask you about the origin of the relics?"

Upon hearing this, Xie Hui's sharp gaze fell upon him: "If you don't ask, and others do, just say you dug it up from under the Evil Emperor's Temple. This matter is over, it's no big deal."

Xie Wenlong was slightly surprised, not expecting his father to have such an attitude.

"Father, could it be that your feelings for Master Fan are not genuine?"

"stupid!"

Xie Wenlong didn't retaliate when he was insulted. It was an illusion; how could it not be genuine?

After a moment of anger, Xie Hui said earnestly, "When major sects and lineages fight, getting involved is like entering a forest of swords and spears. It's not so easy to escape. You've seen the methods of these top experts. Let alone you, even I would perish if I wasn't careful."

"If Grand Commander Zhou has the last laugh, that would be best for you. If he loses, I have also fought with all my might and suffered serious injuries this time, but in the future I can still rely on this face to protect Duzun Fortress."

Xie Wenlong's eyes widened. He never expected that his father, besides being obsessed with Master Fanzhai, would have this other consideration.

Xie Hui snorted coldly: "Without my permission, do you think you would have had the chance to leave the fortress and meet with Grand Commander Zhou? It would have been even more impossible for you to secretly bring the relic back at that time. I didn't expect you to be so bold!"

Xie Wenlong scratched his head and explained:
"That day, the Grand Commander defeated the master of the coffin palace with a single sword strike and publicly demanded an account from Princess Lianrou of the Western Turks. The forces in the Western Regions and the northern deserts were already intimidated by him. We are right here, how can we not think of a way to protect ourselves?"

Seeing that you, Father, were still stubborn, I had no choice but to listen to the Grand Commander. He spoke with me in secret and told me to take the relic, so I reluctantly took it. After all, it was a way to save my life, and it was better than acknowledging him as a creditor.

To be honest, I dare to offend the people of Cihang Jingzhai, but I don't want to provoke Governor Zhou, he really holds grudges.

Just look at the chaos in this fortress; anyone who offends him never ends well. The Western Turkic commander-in-chief, Luo Dushi, has been beheaded. If Princess Lianrou had been a little slower, she would probably have been captured and kept like a Persian cat.

Upon hearing the words "stubborn to the end," Xie Hui really wanted to give his unfilial son a good beating.

However, he has a point.

"You've finally developed some brains."

Jie Hui praised him and then instructed him, "From now on, you should wholeheartedly follow Governor Zhou. The foundation of my Duzun Fort is deeper than that of the Sichuan Gang and the Ba Alliance. As the fort master, don't disgrace my Duzun Fort."

"Yes!"

"Also, have someone secretly keep an eye on Xie Zhiling."

Jie Zhiling, also known as Jie Hui's most trusted steward in the inner fort.

"Father, are you saying he poisoned him?"

Xie Wenlong answered his own question: "That's right, he has the best chance and is the easiest to arrange."

"not that simple."

Jie Hui's face darkened: "If I'm not mistaken, this is all the work of my sworn brother. I heard years ago that he had an affair with the Evil King Shi Zhixuan. Now it seems there's more to this than meets the eye."

“I have no relics. Anlong must know this, but he pretends to be ignorant.”

"The people in the demonic sect were completely unaware, which shows that he didn't spread the news. Anlong and that evil king are not in cahoots."

"Investigate this matter thoroughly and report back to the Grand Commander when he returns."

"I'm not very clear about the struggles within the Demonic Sect, but he probably understood it instantly."

Xie Wenlong nodded, taking the matter to heart.
Suddenly, his father asked again, "Do you think that if the Grand Commander became the emperor, there would be an unprecedented golden age?"

There is currently no answer to this question.

However, seeing his father's expression, Xie Wenlong knew that his old problem had relapsed.

He was thinking about something related to Fan Qinghui.

He then readily replied, "Yes, Father."

He muttered to himself, "Even in a prosperous era, Master Fanzhai, you will not be able to obtain it."

……

Five days after the old king of Tuyuhun was beheaded.

A young woman and a dashing middle-aged scholar were crossing the Chengdu River and arriving at the "Shule Palace".

A sign with the word "bath" was hanging at the entrance.

"What do you mean?"

Empress Yin stood at the entrance of the bathhouse, looking at Shi Zhixuan with a smile on his face.

"Xiaoyan, I'd like to invite you to take a bath. If you trust me enough, I can scrub your back and use my massage techniques to relieve your fatigue."

The Empress Dowager glanced at him sideways, her words more hurtful than a sword:
"Stop spouting such crude nonsense. You're old and decrepit, long past your prime. Do you still think you can fool me like a naive child?"

Shi Zhixuan remarked with a hint of appreciation, "What a pity."

"What's there to regret? If I could go back to the beginning, I wouldn't even look at you."

Yin Hou was quick-witted and found a way to strike him hard: "I think you are far inferior to Master Zhou. He can be respected by my disciple who has extremely high standards, but now your daughter ignores him and not you."

"Hehe, Shi Zhixuan, the more resounding your name as the Evil King was once, the more pathetic you are now."

"I'm staying with you now precisely to see you in this defeated state. It's truly delightful, even more satisfying than seeing you die."

Shi Zhixuan was not angry. Although he was stiff, he still smiled and said, "Xiao Yan, the more you want to hurt me, the more you can't let me go."

He then said with a confident tone:
"Back then, I integrated the martial arts of the Flower and Heaven-Mending Sects and created the Eight Lotus-Breaking Techniques to break the secret methods of the Heavenly Lotus Sect. I also created the Immortal Seal Technique by combining it with Buddhist principles. I broke free from the shackles of the Holy Sect's martial arts and looked across the two sects and the six realms. Who was my opponent?"

"When I entered officialdom, I was in charge of the Western Regions for the Sui Dynasty. In just a few years, I formed alliances and split the powerful steppe empire of the Turks in two, reversing the weakness of the Central Plains since the Wei and Jin Dynasties. By the time I had the idea of ​​overthrowing the Sui Dynasty and creating a new country, the Sui Dynasty could not hold on for long."

"I don't think there's anything I can't do."

Empress Yin snorted coldly, but did not refute his words.

Shi Zhixuan narrowed his eyes slightly: "That kid does have some skills, but it's still unknown who will be ahead."

The Empress Dowager said, "Aren't you worried at all about your own daughter?"

Shi Zhixuan smiled and said, "Don't overestimate this kid. Bi Xiuxin's daughter isn't so easy to get close to."

He changed the subject:
"I'll find Fatty An first. I want to ask him why he dared to lie to me."

The two went from Shule Palace to Jintang Pavilion, then to Xiaoyaogou, and later visited five or six other bathhouses, but still couldn't find Anlong.

Shi Zhixuan discovers for the first time that something is beyond his control.

Anlong was nowhere to be found inside the bathhouse.

There's only one possibility: Anlong is no longer in Chengdu.

Emerging from the tenth bathhouse, Shi Zhixuan looked northeast: "There's something wrong with this relic from Bashu. The essence and will of the evil emperors throughout history are far stronger than this chaotic relic."

"However, this relic is actually genuine."

Empress Yin even knew the secret methods of extracting relics, so she could naturally sense it:

“Zhou Tianshi is definitely with your daughter. Instead of looking for Anlong, you should look for him. This matter was most likely orchestrated by him to gain control of Sichuan and Chongqing. The Taiping Dao has the legacy left by the Eastern Jin Celestial Master, who lived in the same era as Xiang Xiedi. He knows more than we do.”

Shi Zhixuan didn't respond to that question: "Do you know where Lu Miaozi is?"

"I know where he is, why would I need to run around looking for him?"

When Yin Hou mentioned this person, her feelings were quite complicated: "Xiang Xie Di gave the relic to Lu Miao Zi, and this guy hid it away, keeping his mouth shut and refusing to tell me no matter what."

Shi Zhixuan had served as an official in the imperial court and knew many things: "But I have a clue."

"Oh?"

"Judging from the battle at the Evil Emperor Temple, it is highly likely that the relic was buried underground. This Lu Miaozi had a close relationship with Yang Su, a key figure in the founding of the Sui Dynasty."

Empress Yin's eyes narrowed: "Yang Gong's Treasure Trove."

Shi Zhixuan said sincerely, "Xiaoyan, we are both proud and persistent people with the same goal. Before we obtain the relic, I hope we can continue to cooperate."

He didn't waste any words and grasped Zhu Yuyan's personality perfectly.

Since breaking through the eighteenth level of the Heavenly Demon Technique, I have reached the limit of the secret technique.

At her age, relying on her own comprehension, it would be difficult for her to achieve any significant improvement beyond enhancing her skills.

Therefore, the Evil Emperor's Relic was almost their last chance.

Zhu Yuyan glanced at him, and considering the series of opponents she might face, she finally nodded.
……

Thirty-one days after the old king of Tuyuhun was beheaded.

News of the Evil Emperor's Relic, the Secret of Immortality, the Battle of Duzun Fortress, and Zhou Tianshi's slaying of the old king of Tuyuhun had long since spread throughout Sichuan and Chongqing.

It also spread to Hanzhong, Guanzhong, the Central Plains and the Jianghuai region via various ancient roads in Sichuan and Chongqing.

The news that the three major powers of Sichuan and Chongqing were supporting Jianghuai caused a great stir throughout the land, making all the heroes nervous.

Especially Xiao Xian, Lin Shihong, Shen Faxing and others from Jiangnan.

With the Jianghuai army gaining strength, various forces have begun to secretly collude to jointly resist Zhou!

Li Zitong in Hailing originally intended to actively respond to the anti-Zhou alliance, but unexpectedly, before he could even send his men out, they were driven to the city walls by the army in Jiangdu.

General You Hongda, the garrison commander of Jiangdu, led his troops into the city, and together with Qin Shubao, Cheng Yaojin, and Luo Shixin, they broke through Hailing City in four separate routes.

Li Zitong was isolated and without support, and suffered losses of over 30,000 men.

He fled with only a thousand or so remaining troops, intending to head south to Wu County to seek refuge with Shen Faxing. He chose the sea route.

Unexpectedly, the Yancheng army happened to pass by after completing a business deal with the Dongming faction.

Du Fuwei and his adopted son Wang Xiongdan fought their way out of the Yancheng army. Du Fuwei jumped onto Li Zitong's boat and fought a bloody duel with the man who had betrayed him.

Li Zitong was no match for him and was beheaded after thirty moves.

Du Fuwei's pent-up anger vanished, and he burst into laughter on the ship, his voice carrying for miles.

You Hongda led his pursuers to the seaside, where they saw the large ship of Yancheng County and spotted Du Fuwei laughing loudly.

The captain hurriedly suggested, "Today, the General leads 50,000 troops and has the large ship of Hailing. Why not take this opportunity to strike Du Fuwei hard? If we kill him, we will have weakened the Jianghuai region!"

Luo Shixin felt obligated to do so: "I am willing to be the vanguard!"

The crowd was in high spirits, and everyone volunteered to fight.

Yu Hongda remained unmoved and calmly replied, "There's a trick behind your smile."

At first, there were dissents in the army. But not long after, large ships from Yancheng came sailing south one after another, their banners obscuring the sun, which terrified everyone.

The good news was later sent to Linjiang Palace.

General You first captured Hailing, then thwarted the Jianghuai army's plan.

People say that the Jianghuai army has the great general Li Jing and the strategist Xu Xingzhi. However, the General Who Pacifies Bandits in Jiangdu is even more renowned than the two. The emperor of Jiangdu praises him highly, and the court officials extol his wisdom and courage.
……

(End of this chapter)