Sword from the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 222 The Emperor
As they entered Daxing Palace, Yun Shuai's mind was filled with doubts.

From Guangyang Gate, Zhaoyang Gate, Daxing Gate all the way to Daxing Hall, many soldiers and warriors made way for the two men to pass through without hindrance.

Yun Shuai secretly observed these people and found their expressions indescribable.

The awe that others showed to the Celestial Master was nothing out of the ordinary in Yun Shuai's eyes.

However, they seemed to have known in advance that the Celestial Master had arrived, and they made way for him.

People who are focused on watching the excitement are often not paying attention to what's behind them, making it difficult for them to react in time. Moreover, they lack organization and cannot possibly maintain such order amidst the chaos.

Even stranger is...
At this moment, these people were completely still, and if it weren't for their heads turning with their gaze, Yun Shuai would have suspected that they were wooden or clay sculptures.

The Celestial Master possesses immense personal power, but never kills indiscriminately.

These people's behavior is simply too much.

Tens of thousands of martial arts practitioners were gathered together, yet there wasn't a single sound. Yun Shuai couldn't shake the feeling that something was amiss.

He could not find the answer until he passed through the Ganlu Temple.

The ruined Yanjia Hall came into view.

And the pilgrimage-like gazes of the top martial arts masters.

Of course, these gazes weren't directed at him.

"Hiss, what on earth is going on?" Yun Shuai's suspicions grew even stronger. He took a deep breath and couldn't help but steal a glance at the white-clad figure beside him.

Soon, a single sentence from Zhi Ning Sanren made him tremble!
"Master, is that the Shattered Vajra?"

Ning Daoqi came forward, and even with his state of mind from cultivating the Nan Hua Jing, his words sounded somewhat disjointed, showing how unsettled he was.

Fu Cailin, Zhou Laotan, and others were the same.

For those of them who yearn to reach the pinnacle of martial arts.

Witnessing miracles like the shattering of a Vajra or the astral projection of the soul is even more awe-inspiring than manipulating the forces of nature to summon thunder.

Open the Qi apertures and cultivate the spirit within them.

This is the first step for martial artists to reach the ultimate "innate primordial spirit," and any martial artist with some reputation is extremely familiar with it.

The merging of the primordial spirit with primordial energy is already the limit for most people.

The true spirit, even the innate primordial spirit, is entirely beyond reach.

Not to mention the "Primordial Spirit Shattering Vajra"!
Ning Daoqi's words silenced the surroundings, especially the old Buddhist monks, who all perked up their large, drooping ears, not daring to miss Zhou Yi's words.

The raft to save the world is right before our eyes.

"You can say that."

Zhou Yi nodded slightly. He remained calm, feeling only a little curious but not particularly impressed.

It is said that after Ying visited the Temple of the God of War, he was able to separate his primordial spirit from his body, let alone him.

Moreover, he knew the art of transforming the heavens and earth.

This method differs from the method of sensing across thousands of miles by the Eight Masters. Instead, it allows one to guide the primordial spirit outwards and travel throughout the world after the primordial spirit has reached an extremely high level.

It does indeed look very similar to Guangcheng's Broken Vajra.

"So," Ning Sanren paused, "the Celestial Master can already shatter the void?"

Zhou Yi smiled and said, "Of course."

at this time
A strange noise suddenly came from beneath the ruins: "Shattering the void?"

"The primordial spirit leaving the body—is this the power to shatter the void?"

The sound of the second sentence was stronger and clearer than that of the first.

With a loud "boom," a black-clad figure covered in blood burst out of a huge pit.

Shi Zhixuan and the others turned to look at Yang Xuyan.

He had just been struck by a blow to his primordial spirit and had instantly lost his breath, but unexpectedly, he came back to life.

A strange mental fluctuation swept over Yang Xuyan.

Upon seeing this psychic magic, Yun Shuai from Persia immediately thought of a demonic monk who had escaped from India. It was a variant of the Sun-Changing Technique, a psychic magic that hypnotized oneself and could continuously erase various injuries.

"You know quite a lot."

Zhou Yi's assessment was quite fair, but Yang Xuyan felt it was a sarcastic remark: "Hmph, although your strength is great, you still can't kill me."

"I am also a being of the boundless realm of heaven and man, capable of seeking outwards, and unafraid of your depletion."

He longed to see a hint of panic in Zhou Yi's eyes.

But what's terrifying is...
Zhou Yi's gaze seemed to see right through him, and his initial surprise turned into a look of disappointment that drove him crazy.

"Unfortunately, you have not yet achieved the unity of Yin and Yang and attained the Primordial Chaos. You still have a long way to go before becoming a Demon Immortal. You are far from being a worthy opponent of me."

"what?!"

Yang Xuyan was both alarmed and unwilling to believe it.

Just then, Zhou Yi raised his hand, and a wave that didn't seem very powerful formed in front of him. Suddenly, the space rippled like waves, and people's five senses immediately felt the profound and vast power.

The fluctuation seemed slow, but it reached Yang Xuyan in the blink of an eye!
This time it wasn't a clash of primordial spirits, but rather a collision of true essence.

"Ah~~!!"

Yang Xuyan roared and used the Black Hand Demon Art to its fullest extent.

He absorbed the three treasures of the same origin from many masters, making his power extremely terrifying.

At this moment, he wanted to use his superior cultivation to neutralize Zhou Yi's power.

However, this power is completely different from the power of the previous grandmasters. It is not only the combination of the ultimate yin and yang of the Hunyuan Wuji, but also the great trinity of the three treasures of primordial spirit, primordial essence and primordial energy returning to one!

This completely surpasses the "All Laws Return to Emptiness" of the Black Hand Demonic Art.

The Wisdom Sutra is said to be the root of all dharmas.

The source of the Wisdom Sutra itself can be found in this power.

Tao produces one, one produces two, two produces three, and three produces all things.

Faced with the ultimate martial art of "returning to oneness," the black ice and snow that formed a domain around Yang Xuyan melted away, and the Black Hand Demon Art shattered, shattering all his scheming and confidence.

"Boom~!"

Like a thunderbolt, the ears of tens of thousands of onlookers around were deafened, and their eyes reflected the shattered, boundless void!

Yang Xuyan was caught in the shattered void by Zhou Yi's power, his chest exploded with blood, and he lost his breath in an instant.

Just like before, he flew backwards and crashed into the ruins.

But did not expect
This strange creature, despite its severe injuries, miraculously recovered.

Even his loss of breath just now seemed like a pretense.

Because he had been killed by Zhou Yi once before, it took him quite a while to recover his life.

This recovery happened almost instantly.

Faced with an imminent and certain death, Yang Xuyan finally remembered the professional ethics that an assassin should possess.

After feigning death, he immediately fled.

He knew he had no chance of escaping from his mortal enemy; no matter how vast the world was, there was nowhere for him to find refuge.

However.
It's different outside the void!

"Hahaha~!!"

Yang Xuyan's maniacal laughter caused blood to spurt from his chest as he glared at Zhou Yi with a fierce look:

"Celestial Master, thank you for breaking through the void to help me! I, Yang, will settle this score with you outside the void!"

The expressions of everyone around him changed.

They looked at the void shattered by Zhou Yi, and then at Yang Xuyan, who had transformed into a streak of black light and rushed into the void.

The Limitless Heaven and Man cannot be broken by a single person.

However, it has already reached the threshold of breaking through the void.

In other words, he will enter a completely new and vast world.

The Shadow Assassin is about to shatter the void!!

In an instant, the world seemed to quiet down again. As most of Yang Xuyan's figure disappeared into the dark void, people were not only shocked, but also lingering with envy.

At that moment, Zhou Yi sensed something.

Commander Yun finally discovered the reason for the strange phenomenon at Daxing Palace.

The shadow assassin entered the shattered void, his laughter echoing from another world, utterly magical.

Suddenly, time and spacetime stopped again!
A golden light followed the black demonic shadow and disappeared into the void. Everyone was terrified, and many people screamed.

The Celestial Master has shattered the void and departed!
Oh no! Won't the world descend into chaos again?!
"Boom~!"

Almost the instant their thoughts arose, a loud explosion resounded in the void.

With a cracking sound.

Another void has shattered!
Like visitors from outer space, a dazzling golden swan flew out from another world.

"Boom~!"

Another black figure crashed down from the sky.

When they finally saw the figure clearly, everyone, including many martial arts grandmasters, was stunned, regardless of their state of mind.

The Celestial Master's primordial spirit left his body, shattered the void, killed the shadow assassin, then reversed the void, traversed the world, and his primordial spirit captured people and returned!

Beside the Yanjia Hall, in the dead silence, a light footstep sounded.

The closer the footsteps got, the dimmer the light in Yang Xuyan's eyes became.

He struggled to circulate his internal energy to repair himself.

However, with all his power sealed, he couldn't release a single trace of true energy.

The shattered void is gradually closing.

The door to a whole new world has been closed.

Zhou Yi then walked to his side.

A surge of immense resentment welled up in Yang Xuyan: "You!"

He had used all his strength to force out that word.

"Weren't you going to settle accounts with me? If you haven't settled things clearly, why are you leaving? Or do you think you can escape your debts by disappearing into the void?"

Yang Xuyan could no longer make a sound.

Hearing these cold words, he turned and looked at Zhou Yi.

Under Zhou Yi's deep gaze, the Shadow Assassin finally sighed and, like the closing void, closed his eyes.

All was still quiet.

The once world-renowned shadow assassin ultimately failed.

His skills and talent made him a genius of his generation, but unfortunately he was born in the wrong era and encountered an opponent he could not defeat.

The Shadow Assassin lived in the shadow of the Celestial Master.

However, after this incident, his legend will surely spread throughout the martial arts world.

First, it shattered the void, then it was killed by the Celestial Master outside the void, and then captured and brought back to this world.

The Shadow Assassin has experienced everything that martial arts practitioners can imagine, and he has also experienced things that are unimaginable. Calling him a 'legend' wouldn't be an exaggeration.

As everyone's hearts were pounding, they suddenly realized: the Celestial Master could return from beyond the void!
This is of great significance, as it will guide the Tang Dynasty in a completely different direction.

Even historical patterns can change.

The general trend of the world, the long-term division must be united, and the long-term unity must be divided.

If the Celestial Master's radiance continues to shine upon Zhou and Tang, who would dare to cause trouble?

A few people have clear and discerning minds, which means stability. However, whether this is good or bad depends entirely on the Celestial Master's decision, and it depends on whether he can stay true to his original intentions and maintain his integrity.

People are prone to forgetting their roots, so you can imagine how great the test will be.

Inside the Daxing Palace, most people's minds were blank at this moment, unable to think of much.

"Master, what is that world like?"

The Queen was filled with curiosity.

Zhou Yi stated frankly, "I didn't observe it closely, but I felt it was full of vitality and infinitely vast."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Laotan and the others all showed expressions of longing.

They stared at the now-closed void, speechless for a long time.
The chaos in Daxing Palace has been brought under control, and people are leaving one after another.

Shan Xiongxin led his men to handle the aftermath, and under Zhou Yi's arrangement, they buried Yang Xuyan's body together with Dong Shuni's.

After exchanging a few words with Zhou Yi, Li Shimin took away the corpses of Li Yuan and the others.

Soon, as news of the Battle of Wei River and the events at Daxing Palace spread, people's moods subtly changed.

The next day.

Two things happened in Chang'an.

First, Dou Jiande, the King of Xia in Hebei, and Zhai Rang removed their armor and came to Chang'an to pay their respects to the new emperor.

Secondly, all the core members of the Xiang family who had gone into hiding were captured.

Xiang Yushan's father, Xiang Gui, along with his uncle, cousins, and others, including Xiang Wengan who was using the alias Yang Wengan, were all taken to the city gate and beheaded.

This operation also rescued dozens of poor women who had been forcibly taken from various places.

The evils of the Baling Gang have finally been eradicated.

Zhou Yi stayed in Chang'an for more than twenty days.

He wanted to rest, but he sensed the eagerness of his men.

Chen Laomou and Xu Xingzhi have hinted at this many times.

Yang Xuyan died at Daxing Palace on the twenty-sixth day.

South of Chang'an, on a road leading back to the Qinling Mountains, Shi Feixuan bid farewell to her master and then boarded a large warship flying a dragon flag.

From afar, Fan Qinghui saw that Shi Feixuan, after boarding the ship, quickly gathered with that person.

The smile that appeared on the saintess's face as they spoke was one that Fan Qinghui had never seen before.

Before long, the large ship sailed downstream, getting farther and farther away.

Until even the tall Tang Dynasty Zhou flag could no longer be seen.

She sighed softly.

Just then, footsteps approached from behind.

Even with Fan Qinghui's skill, she couldn't detect the person approaching. If he hadn't deliberately revealed his footsteps, she probably wouldn't have heard the strange noise until he was about ten feet away.

Looking back, I saw a handsome middle-aged man in a green robe.

This was the first time she had seen Song Que since the Temple of War appeared.

Tian Dao was absent from both the Battle of Wei River and the Battle of Daxing Palace; he had been in seclusion.

After looking him up and down, Fan Qinghui smiled sincerely and said, "Congratulations, Brother Song, you have made another step forward and are expected to reach the pinnacle of martial arts."

Song Que chuckled: "There's still quite a distance to go. The chances may be slim, but I'm willing to give it a try."

Among all the grandmasters of martial arts in the world today.

Tian Dao is not only the strongest in attack and defense, but also the youngest.

His trip to Chang'an nearly changed the course of his life. Now that he has a clear vision of the future and plenty of time ahead, such good fortune is truly enviable.

For example, people like Ning Daoqi, given their current circumstances, are not as good as Song Que.

"Having the opportunity to try is already putting you ahead of countless others."

Song Que gazed leisurely in the direction the large ship had sailed away: "I, Song, have simply been fortunate enough to be born in a time when someone is leading the way."

He didn't elaborate further, then suddenly asked with a smile:

"Did Qinghui genuinely want the Holy Maiden to leave?"

Fan Qinghui didn't discuss the stance of the martial arts holy land, nor did she share her own thoughts. She only said, "I asked Feixuan, and she has someone she can't let go of in her heart and wishes to follow her true self. As her master, there's nothing more I can do than wish her well."

“Indeed,” Song Que nodded repeatedly, “Qinghui has surpassed the previous generation of Cihang Zhaizhu.”

Fan Qinghui pondered for a moment, then looked at Song Que and said:
"Perhaps my study of the sword manual all these years has been wrong."

Song Que understood what the Sword Manual was about.

He looked slightly surprised as he gazed at Fan Qinghui's face, but quickly calmed down: "If you've made a mistake, then correct it. To be honest, when I was a frog in a well in the mountain city, I was also incredibly wrong."

He finished speaking and didn't wait for Fan Qinghui to reply.

Song Que bowed slightly and said, "I am about to head south. We shall meet again another day."

"Walk slowly."

After Fan Qinghui finished speaking, Tian Dao turned around without hesitation.

At this moment, the cold and ruthless Heavenly Blade, with its upright figure, reminded Fan Qinghui of the days under the setting sun.

Looking back is like trying to salvage a shattered reflection of the moon in a deep pool.

In Fan Qinghui's eyes, Song Que seemed to be truly flawless.
……

……

In the height of summer in Luoyang, the sky is a deep blue and the sun blazes fiercely.

The air was filled with sweltering heat, and the cicadas chirped hoarsely and densely, as if they were playing a symphony for the changing times.

This day was very different from any other day in the Eastern Capital.

The main street leading to the imperial city has been sprinkled with clean water.

The newly hung "Great Tang" plaque above Zetian Gate gleamed in the sunlight, and on both sides of the gate tower stood newly adorned watchtowers, with armored soldiers like a forest and banners like clouds.

On both sides of the imperial road, a guard with a halberd stood every five steps.

They were dressed in gleaming armor, each with a sturdy posture and sharp eyes.

The solemnity within the imperial city contrasts sharply with the bustling activity within the city.

The imperial court had already issued an edict, and today we celebrate together with the people.

At the entrance of each neighborhood, the neighborhood head organized the setting out of wine and food.

Many people put on their best clothes, their faces beaming with joy, and children ran and played in the streets.

The taverns and teahouses were doing exceptionally well. People gathered together, whispering and talking about the new emperor, discussing "open source" (a concept in Chinese culture), and hoping for a peaceful future.

Among the bustling crowd, there were also those who remained silent.

Perhaps they are family members who lost loved ones in the chaos, or perhaps they are remnants of the previous dynasty who still have lingering attachments to it.

They gazed into the distance toward the imperial city, their eyes filled with a mixture of hope, confusion, and a barely perceptible sadness.

The sun of a new dynasty has risen, but the wounds of the past still need time to heal.

The Ziwei Palace stands under the scorching sun, its glazed tiles reflecting a blinding white light, like a burning golden ocean.

The palace is magnificent, and its carved beams and painted rafters have been renovated and look brand new.

Armored soldiers with spears stood solemnly on both sides of the imperial city, while a large number of court officials waited outside, gazing at the towering Qianyang Palace not far away.

at last
The auspicious time has arrived.

The sound of bells and chimes broke through the layers of heat waves, solemnly and slowly emanating from the Qianyang Palace.

Officials, following the new system of order, entered the palace along the imperial road, heads bowed.

It was scorching hot outside, but upon entering the main hall, instead of seeing the four corner ice chests, one could feel a cool and refreshing chill.

The civil and military officials knew that the new emperor was different, so they were not surprised.

All was silent. As the footsteps drew closer, Xu Xingzhi, Chen Laomou, Li Jing, You Hongda and the others became excited.

At one point, the cicadas outside suddenly stopped chirping.

All eyes were drawn to the supreme throne.

Another figure slowly walked to the throne.

Zhou Yi glanced at the court officials who stretched all the way to the outside of Qianyang Palace. As the first emperor, he was inevitably filled with curiosity. He did not immediately sit on the throne that symbolized the supreme authority of the world, but simply stood in front of it.

At this moment, his familiar white robes had been replaced by a dark black imperial robe, embroidered with the sun, moon, stars, mountains, and dragons, and the twelve symbols of the imperial emblem were intricate and heavy.

The crown tassels drooped down, obscuring part of her face, revealing only her chin and a pair of unfathomable eyes.

His gaze swept calmly over the civil and military officials below the imperial steps.

In such a solemn atmosphere, neither former friends nor familiar subordinates dared to look him in the eye.

Then, the ceremonial official's high-pitched and long voice echoed in the hall, each word seemingly striking people's hearts.

The eulogy was a fabricated work, exceptionally beautiful, both tracing back to the Mandate of Heaven and praising the achievements of unifying the land and beyond, and praying for peace.

Then came a thunderous roar of kneeling in worship.

"Long live!"

The sound waves reverberated throughout the Ziwei Palace, almost lifting the dome of the main hall.

Amidst the fervent chants, Zhou Yi slowly turned around according to etiquette and finally sat down.

His figure blended into the enormous throne, which was carved with dragon patterns, his black robes merging with the dark gold of the throne.

The moment he sat down, a beam of intense sunlight pierced through the crack in the palace door, shining precisely on the throne, creating a dazzling display of light that resembled a golden road leading directly to his feet.

Sitting on the throne, Zhou Yi felt a little uncomfortable, but he maintained his manners. Recalling Xiao Feng's instructions, he slightly raised his hand.

In an instant, all was silent.

His voice was not loud, but it reached everyone's ears with perfect clarity: "I have received the mandate of Heaven and followed the wishes of the people to establish the Great Tang Dynasty and open up new horizons for the world."

And said:

"The Sui Dynasty was immoral, causing turmoil throughout the land and bringing untold suffering to the people. From this day forward, I and my ministers shall strive to govern diligently, so that the country may be at peace and the harvests may be plentiful."

After the words were spoken, a brief silence followed, then an even more surging roar of "Long live!" erupted.

With the new emperor ascending the throne and the grand ceremony completed, the Zhou and Tang dynasties were established.
……

……

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PS: ('-'*ゞ I'm half-lying down while writing, so updates are a bit slow. If you're tired of following along, you can read them all at the end of the month. I feel like there are only a few chapters left before it ends. Thank you to all my fellow readers for your generous donations and valuable monthly tickets.)

(End of this chapter)