There are no ancestors at all; I made them all up.

Chapter 296 Making the Immortal Dynasty Great Again

"These people may possess treasures for escaping through the void, or they may have mastered some kind of profound escape technique!" Zhou Qingzheng held the official seal in his hand, feeling the lingering spatial ripples around him, his expression solemn.

Yan Luming gathered his divine sense, narrowed his eyes, and whispered, "This person has endless tricks up his sleeve and is proficient in many techniques. His foundation... is unfathomable!" He paused, then looked at Zhou Qingzheng, "Lord Zhou, it seems we've caught an unexpected big fish! Such a person is willing to associate with these evil bastards from the Rebellious Alliance; his ambitions must be considerable!"

Zhou Qing brushed the dust off his official robe, his fair face covered with frost: "Commander Yan is absolutely right! These madmen of the Rebellious Alliance are obsessed with the so-called golden age of the Taiyuan and Taijing eras, and are trying to overthrow the new policies that His Majesty has established through diligent governance. They want to drag the Immortal Dynasty back to that dark age when nobles, the imperial family, and the Five Sects and Six Religions were high above and monopolized everything, while the poor and countless rogue cultivators had no chance to rise! This is simply perverse and their crimes are unforgivable!"

He grew increasingly indignant as he spoke: "Now, the Immortal Dynasty has broadened the path of cultivation, embraced all rivers and streams, promoted diversity, treated different races kindly, and accepted foreign laws. Although there have been occasional setbacks, the overall situation is peaceful! Yet these evil people are spreading panic everywhere, committing assassinations and acts of sabotage, attempting to restore the old system and recreate the autocratic era when 'the Immortal Emperor's word decided the fate of the world,' treating all living beings like straw dogs! How are such actions any different from those of demons?!"

Yan Luming nodded emphatically, his eyes filled with murderous intent: "Indeed! Although His Majesty's implementation of the new policies has encountered resistance and incurred some costs, it will surely benefit countless people in the future and enlighten the masses. It is the right path that will never change for generations! These lingering poisons of the past are stubborn and must be eradicated! That person just now was incredibly powerful and seemed to be proficient in Buddhist supernatural powers. Lord Zhou, do you know which Buddhist temples or forces are nearby?"

Zhou Qingzheng pondered for a moment and said, "Five hundred miles to the west of here is a Kuchan Temple, which is a branch temple of the Lotus Dharma Realm. Further to the southeast, four hundred miles away, there is another Biechuan Chan Temple on Little Sumeru Mountain. Both of these places are important strongholds of Buddhism in Donglingzhou."

“Kuchan Temple, Lotus Dharma Realm…” Yan Luming’s eyes flickered. “I heard that there will be a Buddhist Dharma assembly at Kuchan Temple in a few days. Perhaps this is a pretext for investigation. Regardless of whether that person is related to Buddhism or not, since he has revealed Buddhist methods, we need to send people to investigate these two places carefully to see if we can find any clues!”

“That’s exactly right! However, Buddhism and Western teachings are wonderful ideas, and in recent years, our dynasty has vigorously introduced them under its new policies. We cannot be negligent or abrupt,” Zhou Qingzheng nodded and said, “I will immediately write a letter and send someone with my seal to these two temples to inquire. If those traitors are indeed colluding with Buddhism, we can follow the clues and wipe them out in one fell swoop! But we must not disturb the tranquility of Buddhism!”

"That's how it should be!"

Once the two had finalized their plan, Yan Luming waved to his subordinates and ordered, "Send all the people we've arrested back first, then clean up this place and search it thoroughly, leaving no stone unturned! Also, send more men to block off the surrounding roads and strictly investigate any suspicious persons passing by! If any trace of the Rebellious Alliance is found, execute them without mercy!"

"Here!"

The cultivators of the Sky Patrol Bureau solemnly obeyed the order and quickly sprang into action.

A hundred miles away, in desolate mountains and wilderness.

The tranquility of an abandoned mountain village was suddenly broken.

"Squeak-"

Chen Qing pushed open a dilapidated wooden door and stepped out with Zhang San and Li Fei, while the two behind him looked around in surprise.

"Conceal your aura and don't let anyone notice us. This place isn't far from where we were before." Chen Qing took the lead in concealing his aura and then reminded the two of them.

Zhang San and Li Fei had both recovered their cultivation in magic and reasoning to almost the same extent, so they immediately followed the instructions and restrained themselves, then secretly communicated with each other using their divine senses.

"The official seal that was just blessed by the law had no effect on this person! This is the manifestation of the laws of the Celestial Dynasty!"

"And that teleportation technique, which can carry the two of us a hundred miles in an instant! Such a divine ability can only be performed by those who have a very deep understanding of the Dao of Space!"

"But this person is the reincarnation of the Holy Emperor, so it is understandable that he has such methods. After all, the emperors recorded in history were all beyond the comprehension of reason."

Their exchange was marked by both surprise and growing conviction in the "Holy Emperor's" identity.

"Has the transmission of thought been completed?"

Just then, Chen Qing's voice suddenly rang out, interrupting their thoughts.

Zhang San and Consort Li were startled and hurriedly bowed.

"I don't dare!"

"I have no other thoughts!"

"I don't care what you think," Chen Qing shook his head, but his eyes were unfriendly. "But there are some things you haven't explained clearly before. Speak, what exactly happened? Why does the Celestial Dynasty's Heavenly Patrol Division treat you like enemies and want to eliminate you as soon as possible?"

He was indeed burning with rage. He had hoped to hitch a ride on a powerful ship, using its influence to explore the Dao Fruit of the Demon Buddha, and even, to some extent, to utilize official channels.

Who would have thought that, in this situation, not only would they be unable to gain any support, but they would also become wanted traitors by the authorities! If their identities are confirmed, their future actions will be hindered at every turn, and how will they be able to seek that fruit?
Faced with Chen Qing's question, which was tinged with anger, Zhang San and Li Fei exchanged a glance.

Some things just have to be said.

Zhang San took a deep breath, carefully choosing his words, and said slowly, "Your Majesty, it is not that we intentionally concealed anything, but that we had not yet found a good opportunity. We originally intended to explain to you after we reached the stronghold. In fact, this is not our fault, but rather the fact that the current Immortal Dynasty has gone astray!"

"Indeed!" Consort Li interjected, "This glorious immortal dynasty, from top to bottom, is obsessed with Buddhism and foreign powers, engaging in metaphysical discussions! The officials in the court take the teachings of the monks from the Western Wilderness as their standard; the restless people in the world take pride in associating with heretics! How can rites and music be preserved? How can the social order be restored? If this continues, the country will cease to exist!"

"The Western Wilderness was originally a land of barbarians, and the hundred tribes of the Northern Border were even more primitive, eating raw meat and drinking blood!" Zhang San's voice was heavy with sorrow. "But what about now? They've transformed themselves into honored guests, superiors, even above us, the people of the Central Continent! How absurd!"

He looked at Chen Qing with hope in his eyes: "We uphold the legacy of the previous emperors, not only to find His Majesty, but also to revitalize the glory of the Immortal Dynasty and awaken the pride in the blood of hundreds of millions of people! For this, we have been running around and calling out, exposing the malpractices of the time, which has naturally angered those who have usurped power and forgotten their ancestors. Therefore, we have been subjected to their frenzied suppression and have been smeared as the Rebellious Alliance!"

Consort Li was on the verge of tears: "Your Majesty! As your wisdom gradually returns, you should be able to perceive the current state of the world! Those heretical sects, under the banner of teaching without discrimination and the common origin of all laws, are recklessly attacking the foundation of our ancestral rites and laws that have been passed down for thousands of years! The laws of the Immortal Dynasty are strict, yet they make an exception for them, while harshly punishing and suppressing those who faithfully adhere to the ancestral teachings!"

Zhang San stepped forward, his voice impassioned: "Your Majesty! Now that you have returned, it is time to restore order! We are willing to take Your Majesty as our banner, gather the loyal and righteous men of the land, and fight against the traitors who usurped the throne and let wolves into the house! We will purge the court of corrupt officials, rectify the government, and restore the world to the right path!"

As Chen Qing listened to the two men's impassioned speeches, his brows furrowed even more deeply.

These words sounded righteous and stern, but he always felt that something was wrong.

He interrupted the two of them and asked directly, "You have said so much, but I only have one question: Is the moral climate of the Immortal Dynasty so low that the Heavenly Patrol Division sees you as thorns in their side simply because you uphold so-called loyalty and righteousness?"

Zhang San opened his mouth as if to speak.

Chen Qing didn't give him a chance and asked again, "Furthermore, you all keep saying that the Immortal Dynasty has gone astray. Then I ask you, why has the Immortal Dynasty become like this? Is it merely because of a few defeats in battle?"

“This…” Zhang San was speechless.

Seeing this, Consort Li explained, "Your Majesty, please calm your anger! The reasons are complex and intertwined. Indeed, there are unscrupulous individuals stirring things up behind the scenes, attempting to..."

"Alright!" Chen Qing waved his hand. "I don't want to hear these empty words! You don't need to beat around the bush. I'll just ask one last question: Your so-called organization is now wanted and suppressed by the Immortal Dynasty, yet you still go to great lengths to find me. Do you want me, the so-called 'reincarnation of the Holy Emperor,' to take the lead and draw your fire?"

Zhang San's face turned deathly pale instantly.

Consort Li hurriedly said, "Your Majesty, please understand! We have no such intention! Our forces have been hidden for many years, with roots throughout the court and beyond, and we have people in many key positions! In the past, we lay low only to preserve our strength and avoid being wiped out! Now that Your Majesty has returned, it is time for the hidden dragon to emerge from the abyss! As long as Your Majesty raises your arm, all loyal and righteous people will surely follow! At that time, whatever Your Majesty wants to do or investigate, you will be able to achieve twice the result with half the effort! We are willing to be Your Majesty's vanguard and help Your Majesty... to restore the glory of the Immortal Dynasty!"

Good heavens, this righteous indignation is about making the Immortal Dynasty great again?

Chen Qing stared at her, knowing that he probably wouldn't be able to find out the truth from these two. But if they were really related to Tai Jing's past life, they couldn't have really become a nobody on the roadside. They must still have some skills, but they probably didn't get along with the current officials of the Immortal Dynasty.

"Risks and opportunities coexist. In the best-case scenario, I can use their channels to save some effort. As for the so-called restoration of the Immortal Dynasty, let's not even talk about what it has to do with me. Even if I were to do it, I would only end up benefiting others. However, I have just had a confrontation with the Sky Patrol Division, so I should keep a low profile for now and play along until I find clues about the Dao Fruit!"

Thinking of this, his expression softened slightly, but his tone remained icy: "Remember what you said today. If I discover that you harbor even the slightest intention to exploit me, or that your actions violate my principles, don't blame me for being ruthless!"

Upon hearing this, Zhang San and Consort Li were overjoyed, bowing deeply and saying, "We would never dare to deceive Your Majesty! We will do our utmost to help Your Majesty regain control of the empire!"

"After this incident, it seems your stronghold is no longer safe." Chen Qing said no more, then changed the subject, "I need more detailed information about the current situation of the Immortal Dynasty, the movements of various forces, especially the Buddhist sects. By the way, didn't the Kuchan Temple say that some extraordinary treasure is about to appear in the world? Do you know the details?"

Hearing this, Zhang San breathed a sigh of relief and was about to agree to send someone to search for the temple's treasures.

But Consort Li suddenly spoke up: "Not long ago, I received news that the prototype of this extraordinary treasure came from a treasure pavilion in the early days of the Immortal Dynasty. It received divine power when the Primordial Immortal Emperor ascended to heaven and took shape during the reign of the Primordial Immortal Emperor!"

(End of this chapter)