Wei School's Three Good Students

Chapter 183 Fate Has Changed
"Being handsome is a lifelong thing!" Through the martial furnace after its second rebirth in flames, he clearly remembered what his father said to him on his 31st birthday.

Thirty years later, Wu Lu ordered a painter to create a mural in the palace of Lelang City, depicting the scene of his father, who had been chosen by the Crimson Emperor, "drawing a bow to shoot down all evil spirits."

From that moment on, Wu Lu vowed: "One day I will definitely command the Chi You army! Even if my father sealed Chi You Mountain with his own hands before his fall, preventing future generations from opening it again!"

…Let's rewind the timeline to Xuanchong…

After the platform was completed, amidst the sound of drums, Xuan Chong ascended it, unfolded his ruler-like mechanical wings, and hovered in the air after a flash. Strings of blue flames from the various nozzles acted as suspended supports, adjusting the mecha's posture.

Then the electromagnetic gun's structure was ejected from the left arm; like 3D printing, the "Ruyi Bintan" material was transformed into the gun barrel, and the weapon, glowing with blue light, was unleashed.

Xuan Chong saw the electromagnetic cannon rising with his left arm. Feeling the kinetic energy humming as it accumulated, he felt an unprecedented sense of joy.

And so, in the eyes of all, Xuan Chong began to draw his bow, and powerful thunderous energy was poured into the bowstring. The people of Zhen could not describe this top-level heretical artifact with their existing knowledge.

The lightning was actually absorbed and stored in the capacitor of the gun barrel, while the electromagnetic warhead was enveloped in energy.

With a "whoosh," a beam of light shot straight into the sky! It was launched towards the Lingjian Sect's mountain gate, a thousand miles away.

However, after firing it, Xuan Chong sensed something was wrong. Xuan Chong: "This bullet seems to be carrying a malevolent aura!"

…Perhaps Chi You's army was sealed away because it disrupted the balance…

Military strategists can disregard immortal sects, and evil energy can destroy the information system in immortal techniques like a magnetic pulse, but why are disciples of immortal sects always able to easily avoid the mortal world?

Because the immortals' mountain gates are located in places inaccessible to humans. Let alone an army of thousands, even a few dozen people would lose several lives trying to climb up. In the desolate mountains and marshes, immortals are nimble; they can disappear dozens of kilometers away in a flash, making them impossible for soldiers to catch up with in the mortal world.

Bows and arrows can only travel less than a hundred paces, but what if bows and arrows could travel more than a hundred paces, a thousand paces, or even ten thousand paces, or even reach any point in the world?

Therefore, when the human path truly develops to the point where it can reach every part of the planet, the end of the Dharma era arrives for the immortal path; all spiritual veins are hidden deep within the earth, and the immortal sects have nowhere to avoid them, so they can only escape and ascend.

Xuan Chong: "Why attack the Linjian Sect first? Because—they're kind, ptooey ptooey ptooey!"

Because the Lingjian Sect's mountains are rugged and dangerous, like those in Zhangjiajie, and they are suspended in the air, they look like excellent targets.

As the shells pierced the sword-like mountain that floated in mid-air, numerous sword immortals flew out and turned to look at their own main peak. A series of crackling sounds were heard, and inconspicuous dust rose from the mountain. Just as the dust began to cover the entire mountain like a veil, cracks began to spread.

The crack seemed to trigger a chain reaction, much like the scene in the Ice Age cartoon where the squirrel stuck a nut into the iceberg.

With a crash, rocks cascaded down the mountainside like a waterfall. It wasn't a sudden collapse, but rather like dominoes, one rock triggering two others; like the falling rocks carrying a pine tree hanging on the cliff, a pine tree fell, tearing apart all the other pine trees whose roots were embedded in the mountainside.

The dissipated spiritual energy crackled and leaked into all the cracks in the surrounding rock, where it began to expand.

Uncontrolled spiritual energy spread through the crevices of the mountain rocks, water and fire collided to create an explosion, and wind and earth alternately produced lightning.

A crevice meandered and branched into countless smaller ones, and the entire mountain collapsed like tofu.

Eventually, the mountain collapsed.

Xuan Chong was too far away, and the observation system only saw that his shot had directly destroyed a mountain, but his expression was like that of a naughty child who had set off firecrackers in the sewers.

…the destruction of mountains and temples…

The floating main peak of the Linjian Sect has lost its original balance due to the large amount of rock falling from the outer layer.

Suddenly, everyone sensed a bright light in the sky. They all looked up, and what they saw was astonishing: the spiritual vein within the peak was flying straight towards the evil moon! It flew higher and higher until it was swallowed up by the evil moon.

But the evil moon that had swallowed the mountain was not satisfied. Instead, the azure moon grew even larger above the Rin Sword Sect.

Before it swallowed the main peak, this evil moon was only the size of a peach held out in front of a person's arm.

After swallowing the mountain peak, it grew to the size of a watermelon.

Moreover, this was only observed on other mountain peaks. If you looked up from the point where the main peak fell, the Evil Moon would appear to be the size of a millstone. It was extremely oppressive.

Of course, no one in the cultivation sects can escape the evil moon by looking directly at it.

The cultivators who escaped from the main peak looked up and immediately transformed into blue, multi-winged monsters.

Upon seeing the Golden Core sect leader transform into a bird-like monster, some surviving cultivators immediately shouted to the others, "Don't look up! Don't look up! Get away immediately!"

In this situation within the Great Yao, only Xuan Chong can look up without fear and gaze at Xie Yue. However, Xuan Chong cannot see any trace of Xie Yue right now. To be precise, Xie Yue's visibility is currently limited to the Lin Jian Sect, making it a "solo illumination."

After the remaining rocks from the main peak of the Rinken Sect, "Ascension," fell, blue flames erupted from the valley floor, like a volcanic eruption. The flames shot out and spread from the bottom towards other mountain ranges.

The entire Lingjian Sect, whether it was the inner disciples with abundant spirit stones in their storage bags, the ordinary spirit plant growers, or the law enforcement hall disciples holding command tokens in the mountain gate, none were spared and all were plunged into the demonic calamity.

As the blue flames and billowing mist spread upwards, the immortals one by one entered a horror movie state.

Compared to the "Plague Disaster" in Lelang City a year ago, where mortals suffered from festering sores and coughs, the Linjian Sect is now facing the Blue Evil Moon! Their magic has become a curse.

…What goes around comes around…

This is the situation the disciples of the Rinjian Sect are currently facing.

Taking the Enforcement Hall of the sect as an example, this group of people faced the blue mist that suddenly rose within the sect.

The sword-wielding cultivators encountered one floating lantern monster after another.

After sensing the fluctuations in magical power, these lantern monsters flew over and fought with the disciples. During their escape, a group of eight disciples cut down the lanterns, and three of their fellow disciples had their heads taken by the lanterns and fell into the clouds.

After the group hurriedly fled to the sect's main hall, they counted each other and found that all fifteen of their fellow disciples had survived.

The senior brother in the lead said, "Everyone is safe and sound. Let's hurry to the main hall of the sect to gather!"

So everyone rode their various colored lights and flew towards the sect's main hall! But after they left, some people's silhouettes were still illuminated by lanterns. And groups of lanterns stood laughing and joking in front of the mountain gate.

Lantern 1: It feels so good to have a body.

Lantern 2: It's not that I have a body, it's that I have an identity! Why do you want to share an identity with me?

Lantern 3: Everyone, let's see who plays the role best next, and that person will be the one who gets the identity.

It is said that the plague in Lelang City caused people's bodies to fester, but it could be stopped with a sulfur hot bath; however, how could the trials matched for cultivators be the same as those for mortals?
Inside the immortal gate of the Linjian Sect, the fleeing disciples, after wandering around, finally arrived at the sect's main hall. Seeing more fellow disciples than in any previous sect gathering, they realized something.

They had simply forgotten the names of everyone else.

In the midst of the oppression, when these fellow disciples began to doubt each other's authenticity, they drew their swords and began to fight each other.

…calamity…

Returning to Xuan Chong's story, after confirming the collapse of the main peak of the Linjian Sect, he felt that the punishment was sufficient.

Then they turned their electromagnetic cannons on another sect. This time, the victim was the Yunxiang Sect.

This is an all-female sect. Four hundred years ago, during the Great Yao era, they allowed their secular disciples to enter the world and made great contributions in suppressing the Prince of Li. From south to north, there are nine City Gods who are members of their sect.

This sect is not located on Mount Ling, but rather in the clouds above it. The magnificent palaces are imposing and grand, and the bridges between them are made of brocade silk. On ordinary days, the fairies walk barefoot on the silk to travel from one palace to another.

A second blue sword beam shot out from the capacitor's energy storage. Inside the main hall, the Yunxiang Sect Master, dressed in palace attire, opened a mirror. As the mirror reflected the light, the palace in the clouds vanished.

However, Xuan Chong's projectile was guided. After discovering the hidden palace, the projectile followed its original locked coordinates, tracing a graceful arc from top to bottom. This palm strike, descending from the sky, pierced through the palace from its dome to its base. The palace did not burst into flames, but the projectile struck directly below.

Before the fairies could react, the damaged area at the foot of the mountain, illuminated by the purple moonlight, overflowed with purple power, and all the leaves of the trees on the mountain turned into purple flowers.

The clouds floating above the mountain emitted a captivating fragrance, and then the fairies discovered that their palace mistress's hair had transformed into purple, crystal-like tentacles. Well, some fairies found that they could lick their own navels with their tongues.

…slightly…

Just as Xuan Chong was firing arrow after arrow at the various sects, everyone in Zhendi felt the sky clear up. The sun's rays shone on the earth again, and the winds and clouds began to stir once more in Lelang City.

Even to those with spiritual eyes, those evil moons grew dimmer and less visible, like the moon at eight or nine o'clock in winter, still leaving a trace in the sky.

However, just as Xuan Chong was about to shoot again, the Qinghua Sect Master, who had connections with the Wu family, rushed over and shouted to Xuan Chong on the high platform: "General, do not shoot again. For the sake of the people, stop."

However, Xuan Chong, wearing a helmet and immersed in the melody of "Eternal Faith in Fingertip Lightning," seemed not to hear it.

In fact, Xuan Chong heard it all and even guessed what the immortal sects would say. But he would never forget what the immortal sect had said half a year ago: "To avert calamity for the world, please, General, do not bring disaster upon this one state."

If it weren't for his current status, Xuan Chong would have retorted, "To rid the world of calamity, I beg you immortals to die!"

Before the old man from the Qinghua Sect could get close to Master Xuan Chong's Astronomical Platform, it was stopped by soldiers in the city whose wings were made of kites.

This venerable old man, with his otherworldly air, had not only come alone, but had also brought with him a great scholar from Zhuzhou. Upon seeing the soldiers blocking his way, the scholar immediately stood up on the spirit boat and said, "Step back!"

In the past, these ordinary soldiers would have been momentarily distracted and lost control of the kite's wings.

However, this great Confucian scholar failed to notice that at this moment, the fortunes of several states began to revolve around Xuan Chong. And with Xuan Chong's aura of benevolent rule so stable, these soldiers, ordered to guard the "shooting platform," could not be disobeyed by his orders.

Three teams of Dragon Horse Legions, totaling about a hundred men, stood ready for battle. The war drums on the ground sounded, and the eight hundred soldiers guarding the high platform looked up at the sky, drawing their bows and nocking arrows. The fierce aura of the soldiers nearly capsized the spirit boat, forcing it to make an emergency landing. During the landing, the spirit boat capsized, and the old Confucian scholar fell flat on his face in the sudden stop.

Wu Hong walked over and scolded, "Old man, do not interfere with the army's prayers to Heaven, or you will be executed!"

The old man from the Qinghua Sect was shrewd. He brought this retired Grand Tutor to the countryside precisely to deliver a wake-up call. In the past, the murderous aura of the military strategists was suppressed by the righteous spirit of the Confucianists, rendering it a dud. Now, he could use his bewitching power to make the army make way for him.

But once the army's murderous aura had been released, the old grand tutor was no longer of any use; he shook off the old grand tutor and ran over to plead for them himself.

The Qinghua Sect Master said, "Please ask your general to stop shooting. If you continue, the mountains and rivers of the world will collapse, and all living beings will suffer."

Wu Hong rode forward on horseback and said disdainfully, "What does the great crime of the collapse of the world have to do with my general Qitian! You old Taoist priest, stop spreading your heretical rumors! Guards, take him away!"

At this moment, the old Grand Tutor who had come along still wanted to say something defiant, and shouted loudly, "Who dares!" Instantly, one strong bow after another was drawn. Under this murderous aura, the old Confucian scholar froze, and then urinated.

…Xuan Chong's electromagnetic railgun fired methodically…

With the last "arrow" shot out, even the most inspired Si Tiancheng could not see the slightest trace of Xie Yue in the land of Zhen.

Immediately afterwards, the lotus lantern shone brightly, and the lotus seed in Xuan Chong's palm began to rise into the air. The lotus seed disappeared slowly into the sky, and the sky seemed to have a filter film torn off. Centered on the lotus seed, the sky became completely clear, and all the calamities disappeared and vanished.

"Finally, it's done! Finally—" said a local merchant, one of the unlucky ones who had been ripped off by Wu Hanluan. They were thinking, "Now that Wu Xiaoque has solved the problem, the biggest debt is over. Next time she rips us off, she'll at least make sure we've done our part, even if we didn't contribute anything."

They looked up at the sky and shed tears of redemption, while his servants did not help the old man up, but instead offered sacrifices to the high platform.

On a slightly lower level of the platform, Yang Sanniang, who was waiting for Xuan Chong, scanned the area below.

From her current height, she could take in the entire scene of piety from every household below.

In Lelang City, faith began to gather, and visible fluctuations began to converge towards the high platform. All the people in the city unconsciously offered their devotion to the one who had received the mandate of heaven.

Yang San Niang turned to look at Xuan Chong, only to see him stepping out of the mecha like a student leaving get out of class, showing no signs of being restrained by "divinity" or "heavenly way".

However, Xuan Chong still saw that the mech's energy bar was rising; the mech's AI told Xuan Chong, who had stepped outside to check the situation, "The psionic storm is charging the mech."

Xuan Chong had already arrived below the stage and asked Yang Sanniang, "Have you ever heard of the term 'psychic storm'?" Yang Sanniang replied, "Are you referring to the current qualitative change in the power of incense offerings?"

Yang Sanniang countered, "Husband, don't you feel anything special?"

Xuan Chong paused for a moment: "How does it feel? I feel refreshed after firing those shots."

Yang Sanniang embraced Xuan Chong and said, "Now that the incense power gathered around you has undergone a qualitative change, which is what you call a spiritual energy storm; when the fortune reaches its limit, it will eventually form a 'destiny' similar to the Great Yao." (Note: The Great Yao lineage is currently losing its destiny, while Xuan Chong is gaining it.)
After hearing the explanation of "destiny" from Yang San Niang, Xuan Chong shook off San Niang's arm and immediately climbed onto the mecha standing on the platform.

After finding the energy collector indicated by the mech's intelligence, Xuan Chong finally saw the psionic storm; the space within this square energy tank was distorted like a hot airflow; this distorted spatial energy flow converged into the energy tank like a vortex.

Xuan Chong touched the distorted part of the space with his hand. He only felt a little heat when he was near the mecha collection slot frame, but he didn't feel anything about the space itself.

However, Yang San Niang came over carrying the martial furnace and said to Xuan Chong, "Hold Yan'er for a bit."

Xuan Chong paused, picked up his son, and Yang San Niang smiled when she saw it.

Because the concept of "destiny" that has been condensed here in Xuanchong will be passed down to Wulu in the future.

Xuan Chong did not become a god; the spiritual energy that had already formed was like a primary school student receiving lucky money during Chinese New Year and having it kept by their parents—it was deposited into the guardian's account. Xuan Chong realized that there might be a problem on the system's side and initiated an inquiry.

Xuan Chong: "System, what is the Mandate of Heaven?"

System: "These are all feudal superstitions, don't believe them."

Xuan Chong: "But why are other people saying it?"

System: "They are ignorant and foolish. Don't learn from them."

Xuan Chong: "Um, fate won't affect me, will it?"

System: "Of course not. In accordance with the curriculum of the human foundation system, all factors that affect your physical, mental and psychological development will be isolated."

Xuan Chong paused for a second: "So, the Mandate of Heaven exists in this world?"

The system reverted to its broken-down mode: "This is feudal superstition, don't believe it."

Xuan Chong: "Alright, you can rest now. Anyway, I'm about to finish class, so just consider this feudal superstition."

…The sky was clear and the air was fresh…

After descending from the altar, Xuan Chong finally noticed the Qinghua Sect Master and asked with considerable surprise, "So it's the old immortal master. What brings you here?" He then invited him into the city lord's mansion.

Looking at Xuan Chong's sincere smile, the Qinghua Sect elder immediately felt that his four hundred years of cultivation were no match for the general who had just turned thirty.

"Could he be a reincarnation of a demon?" This possibility flashed through the mind of the Qinghua Sect Master.

(End of this chapter)