Wei School's Three Good Students

Chapter 146 The Fall of the Palace
As the crescent moon obscured the sun, ripples arose in the canals of Yaodu City. After waves several meters high surged from the river, the fish stirred. Having experienced the devastating incident at the river's confinement, the residents of Yaodu were highly sensitive to changes in the city's water flow, and much discussion ensued.

As they talked, the residents noticed that the fish were rolling around and gradually growing longer. Then, these small fish, which were originally only the size of a child's palm and as thin as noodles, began to devour each other and turn into snakes. These giant snakes swung their ten-meter-long tails and pulled some curious residents into the water. Immediately, the people on the riverbank fled, and the snakes in the river began to surge onto the shore, choosing people to eat.

The scales of these mutated monsters reflected the green light cast by the evil moon in the sky. Inside the Heavenly Prison, Su Kang's body, like a corpse, was set ablaze like a wooden puppet, beginning to smoke. As it burned, incantations appeared and drifted towards the direction of the Heavenly Emperor in the Heavenly Palace.

At this moment, the city was shrouded in the dim light of the evil moon. The nine palaces in the sky, unable to see the sun, had their calculations stopped on the sundial. The palaces, which originally had golden roofs and red walls, were now emitting large amounts of black mist. Within this black mist were the faces of people who had suffered greatly, that is, wronged souls.

On Earth, when people and animals die, they leave behind corpses, which then decompose and produce a foul odor. This odor is the information emitted by the corpse.

In this world, if a large number of people die in fear, in addition to creating physical "corpses," they also create mental corpses, or what we call souls. Ghosts also have a "rotten" smell, which is resentment. And the smell of resentment can make passing living people paranoid and hate everything.

Under the illumination of the evil moon in the sky, the souls of the "loyal ministers and generals" who had been slaughtered in the Heavenly Prison over the past six months suddenly seemed to have regained their bodies. They were no longer in a daze, but retained the fear and hatred they had before their deaths.

The jailers who were whipping prisoners in the Heavenly Prison, as well as the Embroidered-Robed Envoys, were possessed by these wronged souls and began to devour each other, their screams echoing endlessly. One by one, the mad jailers crawled out of the Heavenly Prison with their bones twisted. These wronged souls, still not satisfied, set their sights on the golden hall and surged toward the palace where the Emperor was located.

…Like the Magpie Bridge, ghosts build a “Bridge of Helplessness” between the Heavenly Prison and the Palace…

Inside the main hall of the Ziwei Palace, the divine light was dim, like a candle flickering in the wind and rain. The guards stood watch in the hall, keeping their eyes open amidst the sounds of the palace bells and chimes, and guarding the gates with all their might.

Emperor Xu was the Son of Heaven, originally possessing the "Mandate of Heaven" that allowed him to turn misfortune into good fortune, thus he had always been able to avoid harm before great calamities struck. But now, he could grasp the imperial seal, yet he could not calm the trembling palace.

The origin of the Mandate of Heaven comes from the protection of the "Xi Huang Star". When the evil moon outside the sky blocked the sunlight from shining on the Xi Huang Star, it temporarily locked the mechanism of the Mandate of Heaven. Moreover, Emperor Xu was corresponding with another successor of the Mandate of Heaven (King Zhou) at this time, so he was taken advantage of, which is why such witchcraft was able to succeed.

Currently, within the walls of the Heavenly Palace, runes of all sorts of evil spirits are spreading.

Su Kang's practice of using himself as a puppet was extremely vicious. All the palace servants who came into contact with the runes became possessed by vengeful spirits. These servants, influenced by the evil moon, displayed exaggerated and distorted expressions, their movements completely disregarding their skeletal structure.
Before a cup of tea had been brewed, the palace servants outside the palace gates looked at the ghost with fear and begged to enter the hall for protection, but were refused. As they were possessed, suddenly, images of being whipped and humiliated in the palace appeared, and the evil moon amplified their resentment in the palace.

Eventually, the palace servants, no longer afraid, crawled like puppets, their cheeks flushed with an eerie red, straightening as they climbed towards the palace wall. Once they had scaled the wall, they heard wild laughter, terrified shouts, and the sound of bones being torn apart.

…As the evil moon shines, a force is cutting through the thorns and brambles on the outer edge…

In the early stages of the upheaval, Jupiter's army camp was also attacked by vengeful spirits. However, as the soldiers formed battle formations, they fired crossbow bolts imbued with malevolent energy at these things. Subsequently, the army's spears formed a line to block the onslaught of the rioters possessed by the vengeful spirits. As blood flowed out, the rioters suddenly regained their senses, and the ghosts were thrown out. With the surge of malevolent energy, their souls scattered, and the area around the army camp became a vacuum zone for evil spirits.

Just as Jupiter, carrying a gun and leading the Dragon Horse Legion, attempted to storm the Heavenly Palace to rescue the Emperor, they were blocked outside the palace gates by another group of people from inside the palace.

Jupiter cursed at the Zhou King's Palace assassins on the floating palace tower: "You block the palace walls, but can you block the hearts of the people?"

Just as Jupiter was preparing to order a full-scale attack, King Zhou appeared and stood on the city wall, saying to Jupiter, "General, please return. I will take care of the affairs of the palace."

Jupiter was very confident when facing the palace guards; he even brought his crossbows and other weapons to the outside of the palace walls. The soldiers cocked their crossbows, ready to attack the city walls.

However, Jupiter Yu stopped in his tracks upon seeing the King of Zhou's appearance.

Because Emperor Xu is currently investigating a major case, it's clear to everyone that it's aimed at eliminating the Zhou King's faction. However, despite imprisoning so many people, the Zhou King hasn't been deposed. —At present, Emperor Xu's other sons are all born of concubines, and there's no clear possibility of them becoming crown prince.

Just like the soldiers on the frontier now, because the emperor did not deal with the matter of "the Prince of Zhou seizing Wu Fei's marriage", they are unsure whether the emperor is protecting his own or has other intentions in this matter.

Jupiter's language was also uncertain about Emperor Xu's final plan for dealing with King Zhou.

Is Emperor Xu simply disciplining his son, or is it truly a case of ruthless imperial rule? If it's merely a father reprimanding his son, what should be done about the army's brazen attack on the future emperor? Even if he were to kill the King of Zhou, who should be installed as ruler?
Therefore, at this moment, Jupiter hesitated.

If Wu Fei were here, he would be cursing Jupiter for being an idiot. Politics is a matter of the unknown; once the cards are laid bare, one must proceed without hesitation. The decision to save the emperor has already been made, and even the ballistae have been pointed at the Zhou king's attendants. Therefore, no further influence should be swayed.

Wu Fei's strategy: Even if Emperor Xu really didn't want to depose King Zhou, once they reached the palace gates, it was like an arrow on a bowstring, and he would force Emperor Xu to depose King Zhou.

So Jupiter is still too young. If he had spent more time with Wu Fei and received more guidance, he wouldn't be like this.

Jupiter and Yu stood in a standoff at the palace gates for a full hour. Finally! A tremendous thunderclap echoed from the Ziwei Palace, followed by streaks of lightning and thunder, while a meteorite fell from the celestial moon, ultimately striking the central palace.

The place where the emperor was located was completely engulfed in flames.

On the city wall, a key advisor, his eyes gleaming with excited blue light, watched the evil star he had summoned bombard him and said to King Zhou, "Your Highness, it's done!!!"

King Zhou stared blankly at the destroyed palace. The mountain that had weighed on his head for decades had been removed just like that. For a moment, he felt a sense of unreality and stared blankly.

However, these officials of the Zhou royal court did not stop. Suwang immediately went to the city wall and shouted loudly: "Jupiter is a traitor who entered the palace to assassinate the king. Everyone has the right to kill him! You all must turn against him immediately!"

King Zhou snapped out of his daze and prepared to reprimand his attendants and stop them from talking nonsense.

It was too late. He vaguely saw a blue smiling face behind his attendants and many advisors, as if mocking everything.

…Some things, once said in certain situations, can have consequences more serious than an earthquake…

Outside the city, Mu Xingyu was also watching the falling meteor. She was in a state of shock and disbelief. After hearing that damned lackey of the King of Zhou slander her like that, she suddenly realized that she had made a grave mistake.

Jupiter cried out in grief and indignation amidst the chaos of the army: "King Zhou murdered his ruler, and I dare not live alone."

Then, he drew his sword and committed suicide in front of the palace gate. The sound of his voice spread throughout the capital, echoing for a long time.

Before dying, Jupiter looked mockingly at the group of rebellious traitors on the city wall—her death was outside the palace walls, blocking the foul water thrown at her, while at the same time placing this enormous disaster on these rebels.

The remaining soldiers looked at each other, but did not scatter and flee. Some officers from Bo County shouted, "Charge out! Head north!" Under the officers' organization, the soldiers, who had been in a daze, came to their senses, picked up their weapons, and began to fight for their lives, spreading the news of "King Zhou murdering the emperor and usurping the throne" far and wide.

Meanwhile, in the Imperial Ancestral Temple, as incense was offered to the former emperors at the altar, King Zhou, who was absorbing the aura of the Mandate of Heaven, suddenly exhibited unusual behavior.

The "Mandate of Heaven" inherited by the Great Yao Emperor has the effect of being able to foresee good and bad fortune. At this point, he felt that the Mandate of Heaven was losing momentum after he had only integrated half of it.

Just as he was trying his best to sense the blessing of "Heaven's Mandate", an extremely evil and depleting force seemed to surge towards him from beyond the heavens.

Instantly, images flashed through his mind of the souls of those who had died in the palace, the palace maids and concubines staring at him with their long tongues lolling out, Mu Xingyu brandishing her sword and rebuking him with a gloomy expression, "King Zhou has usurped the throne!" Finally, Emperor Xu sat on his throne, staring at him coldly and saying, "How dare you, you rebellious son!"

Outside the palace, the Daoist was gazing at the bright moon when he took out an axe. He raised it high, facing the moonlight, and then swung it fiercely at the floating palace where King Zhou resided. As the axe fell, a meteor shot out from the crescent moon, precisely following the axe's trajectory, and crashed down upon King Zhou's palace. The palace seemed to sense the danger and began to descend to avoid it, but the meteor in the sky changed direction, as if it had locked onto the target.

Inside the ancestral temple, King Zhou suddenly jumped up in fear, and as he did so, the incense that had been burning in the temple silently went out. This signified that the fusion of the Mandate of Heaven had been forcibly interrupted.

This merged half of destiny told him that what followed was not a matter of "fortune and misfortune being interdependent" or unpredictable changes, but rather pure retribution.

Just as he was clutching his head, trying to clear away the maddening fear, he suddenly felt lightheaded as the palace tiles began to slowly float.

Then, a palace attendant stumbled in and shouted the reason: "Your Highness, Your Highness, the Purple Palace is falling!"

…The nation's fortunes plummeted from that point on…

At the moment when the evil sun obscured the moon, all the people of Da Yao saw the Ziwei Palace shrouded in black mist, then struck by a meteor, and finally fall to the ground.

The energy-filled bricks at the bottom of the central palace shattered the bricks and tiles of houses in the west of Yaodu City, and a large amount of smoke and dust buried half of Yaodu.

With the evil moon no longer obscuring the sun, the palace guards of Da Yao rescued King Zhou from the palace.

Suwang, along with many of Zhou King's confidants, rescued Zhou King from the ruins, but Zhou King and his attendants did not notice the gazes of the people of the capital as they watched the carriage.

For thousands of years, the emperor has stood firmly on the Temple of Heaven, directly communicating with the Way of Heaven.

However, now that the Temple of Heaven has been struck by an alien star and fallen from the sky, it is clear that someone has committed a moral transgression. And what emerged from the ruins of the Temple of Heaven was not the Emperor of Shu, but the King of Zhou! — Considering the fleeing soldiers shouting "The King of Zhou murdered his ruler," everyone now understands perfectly what caused such "divine wrath and popular resentment."

King Zhou heard countless whispers from his chariot and the suspicious gazes of the people, making him feel extremely uncomfortable.

There was a time when he thought the throne was incredibly wonderful and couldn't wait to sit on it the next second, but now that his wish has come true, he is not so happy.

…Emperor Xu's last words as he looked out of the palace on his deathbed were, "You were too hasty."

In the Zhou King's palace, Lady Li was protecting her son, whose childhood name was "Zhu Ge'er," while the palace was also invaded by other evil spirits. None of the Zhou King's other male offspring were spared; some gouged out their own eyes with their fingers, while others smashed their heads against the artificial hill. Everyone in the palace tried their best to protect these noble children, but even when they were restrained, the children still frantically bit off their own tongues.

Li set up a barrier for Zhu Ge'er, with some ghosts outside, seemingly providing tight protection. But Li herself knew that it wasn't her son who needed protection, but rather to prevent the fiery energy within her son from purifying the entire palace.

One of the girls who hid inside the barrier would happen to witness this scene while the barrier was in operation. A wronged spirit approached, and after touching "Brother Zhu," its whole body started to smoke and burn.

When King Zhou returned from the palace, he was shocked to find that he had only "Zhu Ge'er" and two daughters who were both under the protection of Lady Li.

…The world is stirring with unrest…

At the same time as the Palace Collapse occurred, all the major sects in the world were shocked.

Many immortal sects and factions held a meeting at the Lotus Treasure Sect on Mount Mingheng. Unlike the grand banquets held by the City Gods, the cultivators sat on clouds and began to exchange ideas.

Xingrong Daozun, who gathered everyone, said: "You have all calculated the result. The fortune of the major hexagram has suddenly dropped sharply."

Many immortal sects nodded in agreement. As monks, they were not concerned about the power struggles among the Great Yao sects. However, the current chaos in the world and the sharp decline in the Great Yao's fortunes meant that war was imminent.

The military forces originally stationed by the emperor would clash with each other, leading to wars and instability in the country.

Since Xie Yueyang destroyed the mountain gates of the Yaotian Sect and the Jiuyao Sect, many immortal sects have become aware of the terror of this calamity. All parties have already sent their disciples into the mortal world. At the last meeting, when discussing entering the mortal world, everyone started with nobles and officials of the prefectures and states, and everyone tacitly avoided mentioning military strategy.

In Xuan Chong's previous life, this was like a global situation in turmoil, but as long as a certain bottom line had not been crossed, no one would talk about nuclear weapons.

Now, however, all parties are forced to discuss this matter. The last time the major sects actively and proactively engaged in worldly affairs and cooperated extensively with military strategists was when the Yao Dynasty replaced the Cheng Dynasty, plunging the human realm into a debate over the ideologies of Chan and Jie. Currently, the major immortal sects are not aligning themselves according to their ideologies, but each hopes that their lineage can grow stronger during this great calamity.

Beiyunmen was the first to launch an attack, claiming that Qinghua Sect had overstepped its bounds. Qinghua Sect was now sending disciples to join Wu Hengyu's military force, moving along the river into various waterways and extending its influence northward.

The Qinghua Sect seized the strongest military strategy and the strongest fortune first, naturally attracting the envy of other factions.

The sword immortals of the Qinghua Sect sneered and said, "To uphold justice for the world, one should naturally slay demons and monsters within one's jurisdiction. If you haven't contributed, are you just going to sit idly by and wait for the great cosmic collapse to bring disaster to the rivers and lakes?"

Immortals have their own calculations and disputes within the realm of immortals. And the more they calculate and disputes, the more impure the pure and serene place gradually becomes.

…an era of great strife…

On May 4th of the Tianli calendar, the Heavenly Palace fell. The remnants of the army led by Jupiter gradually fled back to Bojun in late May.

Regarding this matter, Xuan Chong gathered all the officers and even the staff of Bo County before him to discuss it together.

As for Wu Hengyu's uninvited arrival to inquire about the situation, Wu Fei immediately told him to stay away and patiently explained that "it's best if he doesn't know about this conspiracy." Furthermore, he advised Wu Hengyu to bring a large army and be on high alert, guarding against him.

After all the officers arrived, they fell silent. Since leaving the capital, they could not be said to have shared life and death, but they were all like brothers from different fathers and mothers.

After Jupiter died, everyone felt a sense of loss, but also a sense of bewilderment. Some were tempted to "rebel against him" or "go back and establish a new emperor!" This impulse was based on their self-proclaimed invincibility.

Of course, this impulsive idea would not be accepted by most members of the Dongshi Army at this time.

In this upheaval, the officers and soldiers of the Eastern City were primarily concerned with ensuring the safety of their families in the capital. Consequently, in their panic and fruitless efforts, they ultimately turned to Wu Fei for advice.

Wu Fei summoned all these people to discuss the matter, which was not a "final decision" in the first place. When finalizing matters, the fewer the better, otherwise it would be considered a lack of secrecy in planning.

Wu Fei's strategy was to have all the surviving remnants of the army go into hiding, then find a few unlucky souls in the death row, behead them, and present their heads to the King of Zhou. This was to give the King of Zhou, who was trying to persuade him to surrender, a way out, while also making his own request that the King of Zhou not implicate his family in the capital.

Everyone applauded this. However, although Wu Fei had accomplished the task, relieving everyone of the risk, the resentment of the army towards the court remained: "We've fought for so many years, and yet we haven't been rewarded for our merits. And this is how the court treats us? They've just rebuilt the power structure and kicked us out of the group?!" Thinking about this too much kept them up at night, unable to sleep due to their frustration.

"King Zhou, you deserve to die!" was the thought in the minds of the generals.

(End of this chapter)