Promise!

Chapter 308, A Glimpse of Beauty

Yong'an, the capital city, the second ring road, Yuwen Mansion.

"Is this the power of sentient beings' thoughts?"

Yuwen Shentong looked at the strange power in his hand. This was the secret technique he had deduced based on the "Nine-Nine Qiankun Technique" he had exchanged with Zhuang Jin. It relied on the body to collect the free spiritual power and refine it into the power of all living beings' thoughts.

He sensed that this object was effective against his own bottleneck, allowing it to loosen slightly, and his eyes shone with an unprecedented brilliance.

"It really works! But I need more!"

"I have already merged with the ancestral origin of the third level of the Yang God realm, and I am far from reaching my limit. As long as I have more sentient beings' thoughts, I can break through the second level of the Yang God realm, and even reach the third level like that ancestor!"

The patriarch of a powerful clan who breaks through to the Yang God realm with the help of the Suspended Heaven Mirror is fundamentally different from the patriarch of a noble family who breaks through to the Yin God realm with the same Mirror.

When a patriarch of a powerful family breaks through to the Yin God realm, taking Shangguan Jinfeng as an example, the origin of the Suspended Heaven Mirror is incorporated into the breakthrough process.

As for the Yang God Seed of the aristocratic clans, because the Suspended Sky Mirror of Yong'an in the capital is the main realm, the original source of the ancestors after their deaths can be returned, so it can be well preserved. When breaking through to the Yang God realm, it can use its bloodline as a guide to choose a resonant and compatible ancestral original source, refine it and integrate it into its own body.

These powerful clans' Yang God seeds were already unparalleled geniuses, and each contained a portion of their ancestral Yang God origin, so their foundation was naturally extremely profound. This was why Zhuang Jin had sensed that Yuwen Shentong's Yang God was not a fake.

This method of integrating ancestral origins has both advantages and disadvantages.

The advantage is that it strengthens one's foundation, preventing one from becoming a worthless figure like the Yin God of a powerful family. Furthermore, it makes breaking through bottlenecks slightly easier before reaching the realm of the ancestor into whom one merges with the origin.

The downside is that the upper limit is locked; the highest one can reach is the realm of the ancestor into whom one merges with the origin.

In other words, when a clan's Yang God seed breaks through to the Yang God realm, it resonates with and merges into the ancestral origin of the body. If that ancestor only had the first level of Yang God in his lifetime, he will be stuck at the first level of Yang God for life and will not be able to advance even an inch thereafter.

“I am different. The ancestral origin that I resonate with and refine into my body is the origin of the first ancestor of the Yuwen family. He was a pure Yang God at the third level of the Divine Realm before his death. Therefore, the drawbacks can be basically ignored.”

The Yang God Realm, the third level of pure Yang, and the Grandmaster of the Divine Realm are extremely rare, almost legendary, even in the eight hundred years of the Great Qian Dynasty, let alone the realms above the Yang God Realm.

The first version of the cultivation technique Black Fiend Technique, the second version Five Elements Technique, and the third version Five Elements Mutation Technique created by that immortal eight hundred years ago—as long as they were created by him personally and not modified by later generations—each has an alternative realm after the third level of Yang God.

The immortal who created this realm named it "Celestial Being" and praised it as "the Saint among Martial Arts." This realm is a unity of spirit and flesh, a transformation of celestial being into human. It is described as follows: Yin and Yang rotate to form Taiyi, and the primordial chaos leads to the celestial being.

However, martial artists of this level never appeared during the most prosperous martial arts era eight hundred years ago when that immortal was still alive, nor during the great martial arts era of the Guangwu Restoration of the Great Qian Dynasty eight hundred years later. Clans generally believe that the gap between the Yangshen Third Realm and the Celestial Being Realm is too large to be broken through, and that it is a non-existent realm.

Therefore, under this background, refining and integrating the ancestral origin of the third level of Yang God realm has no drawbacks and only benefits from a worldly perspective.

"I have not yet reached my own limit. By combining the thoughts of all living beings to help me break through the realm, given time, I may be able to break through the second level of the Yang God realm and become a Grandmaster of the Saint realm. At that time, I will suppress the Shi, Mu, and Gongshu clans, threaten the Xuanyuan royal family, and rule the court alone. I will be second only to the emperor and above all others, worthy of being a nominal ruler."

"As one's status rises, it will benefit oneself and help to refine the power of all living beings. One may have a chance to reach the Pure Yang Realm of the Third Yang God Realm or the Grandmaster of the Divine Realm."

"When I truly break through to that level..."

Yuwen Shentong's face flushed slightly: "I might even be able to sit in that position."

Why is the Great Qian royal family the Xuanyuan clan? It's not because the Xuanyuan clan is the royal family that they are the strongest of the five great clans. On the contrary, it is precisely because the Xuanyuan clan is the strongest of the five great clans, subtly half a level higher than the other four clans, that they are the Great Qian royal family.

Following this logic, "the emperor is the one with the strongest army and the most powerful horses." Since everyone is from a powerful clan, how could the Xuanyuan clan sit on the throne of the Great Qian Dynasty, which spans two hundred million miles of land? Why couldn't the Yuwen clan sit on it?
It's just like the saying goes: Emperors take turns sitting on the throne, and today it's my turn!

"However, that's a matter for the future; for now, we must remain patient."

Yuwen Shentong said with a playful expression, "Emperor Qian Yuan died suddenly, and the royal family still has one Yang Shen Ancestor who has been in seclusion for many years. There are conflicting opinions within the royal family, so my aunt had to rely on me to put me on the side of the Shi, Mu, and Gongshu clans to maintain the balance. But she didn't know that I had already secretly reached an agreement with the Shi, Mu, and Gongshu clans."

"In this way, on the one hand, the royal family is used to suppress the Shi, Mu, and Gongshu clans, and on the other hand, the royal family is undermined as bait to lure the Shi, Mu, and Gongshu clans. This allows them to benefit from both sides."

Thinking of this, he couldn't help but feel a sense of pleasure in having the Great Qian imperial family, the Shi, Mu, and Gongshu clans all at his fingertips.

But will the methods left behind by the Shi, Mu, and Gongshu clans, the Daqian royal family, Zhuang Jin in the shadows, and the immortal lurking beneath the surface truly work as they wish?
Outside, the night in Yong'an, the capital, seemed even deeper.

……

Several miles away from the Yuwen Mansion, in a quiet room in the Zhaixing Tower, on the Third Ring Road of the capital.

hum!
Zhuang Jin's entire figure transformed into a scattering of glass-like particles, which then reassembled on the other side of the quiet room.

This is precisely the introduction to the Yang Shen chapter of the movement technique "Ice Spirit Flash".

It had only been two or three days since he broke through to the Yang God realm. The reason he was able to master the Yang God chapter of "Ice Spirit Flash" so quickly was not only because he had no bottlenecks, but also because it was in line with the Yin God chapter and could be seamlessly connected.

"The 'Ice Spirit Flash' Yang God chapter allows the body to be imbued with the power of the Yang God, temporarily transforming the body into an elemental form, immune to physical damage, and also significantly reducing energy damage. This is somewhat reminiscent of the legendary celestial beings' ability to 'take form when gathered and disperse as energy.'"

'That's understandable; the Yang God martial arts are known as "great supernatural powers."'

Zhuang Jin thought to himself, considering his next move: 'Besides the movement technique "Ice Spirit Flash," there's the Yang Shen chapter of "Eight Gates Sword Formation" and "Thousand Miles of Ice Seal." With this, my strength can see a significant improvement in a short period.'

After breaking through to the Yang God realm, the fastest way to improve one's strength is naturally through cultivating Yang God martial arts techniques. As for accumulating realms, that's not something that can be done overnight, and it's also limited by the resources available for cultivation.

'For me, there is actually another way to potentially significantly increase my strength: to complete the ten types of spirit orbs in the Holy Spirit Orb and transform it.'

Zhuang Jin pondered to himself: 'Next, clearing out the beast tide and reclaiming the Songling wilderness will yield a wealth of exotic beast materials and rare treasures. The 'reclamation contribution points' earned can be exchanged for reclamation tokens, and also for some high-end, rare resources.'

'Perhaps the Yin Spirit Pearl can complete the task during this time.'

He thought about how the Holy Spirit Pearl could devour ten different spiritual pearls and create a space inside, and he also had a vague premonition that his own Yang God realm would change beyond recognition. His heart was filled with anticipation.

……

The following day, representatives of the Kyushu aristocratic families attended court together.

The Zhengde Hall of the Great Qian Imperial Palace.

This place is the center of power in the Nine Provinces. It is magnificent and splendid, yet solemn and majestic. It also seems to have various special formations that can greatly shield and isolate the power of the soul. When the court meeting began, Zhuang Jin saw the current emperor of the Great Qian Dynasty. He looked to be less than ten years old. There was still some downy hair on his face. Moreover, because he had not yet reached the age where his meridians were fully formed, he had not yet started practicing martial arts.

Further back, behind a beaded curtain, Empress Dowager Yuwen was ruling from behind the curtain.

Rumor has it that Empress Dowager Yuwen is extremely beautiful. Zhuang Jin, separated by the beaded curtain, could not see her clearly, nor did she use her spiritual power to investigate out of curiosity—there must be an isolation formation here.

Even if he is at the Yang God realm, he might be able to see through the formation, but he could also be discovered, especially since there are several powerful clans at the same Yang God realm present. If that happens, things will get really interesting.

As the court assembly officially began, various matters were quickly passed over in the court, both major and minor. In fact, those things that could be brought to the court assembly and discussed on the table were not very important. Even if they were, they had already been decided beforehand and were just going through the motions.

The same applies to the reclamation of Songling; we'll get to that point soon.

As the Grand General, Yuwen Shentong stepped forward and read aloud the details of yesterday's agreement. This had been decided long ago, and today was just a formality.

As soon as she finished speaking, the young emperor, who had been drowsy during the long court session, opened his mouth slightly, suppressed a yawn, paused for a moment, and then habitually looked at Empress Dowager Yuwen behind the beaded curtain.

Empress Dowager Yuwen spoke up from inside: "Minister Shi, Minister Mu, Minister Gongshu, what are your thoughts on this matter? Do you have any objections?"

“This is excellent. The General’s considerations are thorough, and this old minister has no objections.”

"This is such a good thing for the country and the people. General Yuwen has made a great contribution. This old minister fully supports it and will lead his family to devote themselves to it."

"This old minister seconds the motion, General Yuwen..."

Shi Yongnian, Mu Tianyuan, and Gongshu Yuheng all spoke highly of Yuwen Shentong, implying that he was a "capable minister in times of peace" and that they would follow his lead without question.

Upon seeing this, Empress Dowager Yuwen glanced at Yuwen Shentong with surprise and doubt.

Yuwen Shentong was also slightly taken aback. Given the tacit understanding between him, Shi Yongnian, Mu Tianyuan, and Gongshu Yuheng, they should have pretended to be convinced but were actually not, putting on a show of verbal sparring as usual. Unexpectedly, these three did not play by the rules and directly came up to him.

He quickly realized the three men's malicious intentions, so he humbly declined their offer and subtly distanced himself from them. On the contrary, Shi Yongnian, Mu Tianyuan, and Gongshu Yuheng persistently flattered him, acting as if they were close friends.

This left many court officials stunned.

Previously, Emperor Qian Yuan died suddenly, and another Yang Shen Ancestor of the royal family only made a brief appearance before returning to seclusion and refusing to participate in affairs. The royal family was leaderless, so Empress Dowager Yuwen summoned Yuwen Shentong to the capital, relying on him to compete with Shi Yongnian, Mu Tianyuan, and Gongshu Yuheng. Under these circumstances, Yuwen Shentong clashed with Shi Yongnian, Mu Tianyuan, and Gongshu Yuheng, often engaging in verbal battles in the court, almost to the point of physical violence.

Now the situation is reversed. Shi Yongnian, Mu Tianyuan, and Gongshu Yuheng are showing affection, while Yuwen Shentong is avoiding them like the plague and keeping his distance. It's quite dramatic.

Behind this lies the respective positions and calculations of each party.

The royal family aimed to win over the Yuwen clan in order to counter the Shi, Mu, and Gongshu clans and maintain balance in the court.

Yuwen Shentong, while siding with the royal family, also secretly sought to reach an agreement with Shi Yongnian, Mu Tianyuan, and Gongshu Yuheng, hoping to play both sides and ultimately seize the highest position for himself.

Shi Yongnian, Mu Tianyuan, and Gongshu Yuheng deviated from the script and directly approached Yuwen Shentong, showing him affection in order to sow discord between Yuwen Shentong and the royal family. Ideally, they would also bring Yuwen Shentong over to their side, isolate the royal family, and sideline the emperor, allowing the Holy Emperor to rule by doing nothing.

Well, the Holy Emperor ruled by doing nothing, and they never thought of dragging down the Xuanyuan royal family. Emperor Qian Yuan died suddenly, losing the power to suppress the four clans, but there is still another Yangshen Ancestor and the royal family's foundation. Judging from their own experience, the immortals must have left some trump cards for the royal family. At present, the royal family is not ambitious enough, but more than capable of protecting itself.

Even if the Xuanyuan clan were to be brought down, who among the three clans would take their place? In the past, under the pressure of the royal family, the Shi, Mu, and Gongshu clans were united, acting in unison and as close as brothers. But even brothers cannot work together and then let one clan reap the rewards while the other takes off on its own.

Returning to the story of Shi Yongnian, Mu Tianyuan, and Gongshu Yuheng, their attempt to sow discord between Yuwen Shentong and the royal family, and to win Yuwen Shentong over, was something Yuwen Shentong could never agree to.

The Shi, Mu, and Gongshu clans were united as one, while the Yuwen clan guarded the north of the Great Qian Dynasty and resisted the Yan and Hu tribes. To put it nicely, the Yuwen clan isolated the other four clans; to put it bluntly, they were excluded.

If Yuwen Shentong were to actually go there, he would be inferior, serving as a subordinate of the three clans. How could he compare to openly standing against the Shi, Mu, and Yuwen clans and joining forces with the royal family? He would be nothing more than the head of a chicken.
The intricacies of this situation are precisely the root cause of the changes in attitudes from all sides.

Zhuang Jin saw through all of this perfectly and knew that it was all in her own interest, so she enjoyed the gossip immensely.

Yesterday, Yuwen Shentong said that he had already won the support of the Shi, Mu, and Gongshu clans, and today he did just that. However, when Shi Yongnian, Mu Tianyuan, and Gongshu Yuheng expressed their closeness, Yuwen Shentong declined, acting as if he were a thousand miles away, which was quite amusing.

However, they were all old foxes; they were confused at first, but quickly figured it out.

'Those three white-haired scoundrels and old, bearded thieves, just wait... I'll make them pay!'

Feeling the strange gazes from the crowd in the hall, Yuwen Shentong thought to himself, and continued to speak, expressing his irreconcilable opposition to Shi Yongnian, Mu Tianyuan, and Gongshu Yuheng, and told Empress Dowager Yuwen.

Empress Dowager Yuwen was also a shrewd person, and she naturally understood that the Shi, Mu, and Gongshu clans were trying to sow discord among them. However, she couldn't help but think about it and have some doubts in her heart. What if Yuwen Shentong really joined forces with these three clans? This made her feel uneasy.

This is an open conspiracy.

This is just an interlude. Regardless of the internal strife among the five major clans, their stance on the matter of clearing out the beast tide and reclaiming the Songling wilderness is consistent, and today it can be considered a public confirmation.

It is worth mentioning that, in order to clear the beast tide and start the Songling reclamation operation, the Grand Princess Xuanyuan Nihuang presented a stunning dance.

Under the reflection of the Suspended Heaven Mirror, amidst the layers of palaces formed by the clouds and mist, the stunningly beautiful Grand Princess, adorned in rainbow-colored robes and shimmering silk threads, danced with breathtaking grace and ethereal beauty, like a peony in full bloom, making all who beheld her feel ashamed of their own appearance.

Especially as the dance music came to an end, golden rays of light burst forth in the clouds, and the gates of the palaces in the clouds opened and closed in succession, while brocade was piled up on the ground, pushing the atmosphere to its climax.

Representatives from prominent families, such as Meng Duangui, Yang Shiji, Lu Sizhe, and Mou Zonglun, were all captivated by the sight, their faces flushed, clearly enamored with the Grand Princess.

Zhuang Jin was equally amazed and noticed that under the influence of the dance and music, his own Yang Shen power was slightly activated, causing him to lose his focus for a moment before Shangguan Yunchang pinched him.

He shook his head and chuckled. He wasn't bewitched; he was simply marveling at the effect of the "Dance of the Startled Swan" and pondering its meaning: 'The royal family and the Yuwen clan are united against the Shi, Mu, and Gongshu clans, but the royal family and the Yuwen clan are also scheming and wary of each other. Xuanyuan Nihuang's dance is a way of competing with Yuwen Shentong for the hearts of the noble families and commoners participating in the Songling reclamation, and thus diminishing their prestige.'

'This brings to mind everything that's happened before; today, one act ends and another begins—what a grand spectacle!'

The five major clans, including the royal family, each had their own thoughts and schemes. They cooperated amidst the struggles and were wary of each other amidst the tacit understanding. However, for the sake of interests and changes in the situation, they would turn around and betray each other. This truly broadened Zhuang Jin's horizons and broadened his knowledge. While he marveled at how fascinating it was, he was also more determined to hide himself deeply.

"In terms of cunning and shrewdness, I might not be able to outmaneuver these people. When dealing with powerful clans, one cannot be dragged into their rhythm. Instead, one should maximize one's own advantages, remain behind the scenes, and proceed cautiously until one possesses absolute strength to overwhelm them!"

……

(End of this chapter)