Fantasy: I, the Great Celestial Venerable of the Dao

The roof of the palace is inlaid with a celestial map, with luminous pearls as stars.

With gold lines as its guide, it is dim during the day and shines at night, just like the real starry sky.

At this moment, the atmosphere in the main hall was as heavy as iron.

A figure sat on the dragon throne.

He looked to be in his forties and was wearing a black dragon robe.

The robe was embroidered with nine five-clawed golden dragons, each one lifelike, with a faint golden light flowing in its eyes.

His face was resolute and chiseled, his eyebrows were like swords, and his eyes were deep and unfathomable, exuding an aura of authority even without anger.

It was none other than the Emperor of Qin—Ying Yiren.

Below, civil and military officials lined up on both sides.

The civil officials were headed by Chancellor Lü Buwei, while the military officials were respected by General Wang Jian.

But at this moment, everyone's eyes were focused on one person—

Shang Yang.

This Legalist giant strengthened the Qin Dynasty through reforms and laid the foundation for its century-long reign.

Although his hair and beard are now completely white, his back remains straight as a pine tree, and his eyes sparkle with wisdom and perseverance.

"Minister Shang," Ying Yiren began, his voice like the clanging of metal echoing through the hall.

"You just said... is this the only way?"

Shang Yang bowed, his voice steady:

"Your Majesty, since the reforms, the strength of our Great Qin has grown daily, and its military power has become increasingly formidable. We have long been a thorn in the side of the other six states."

At the Handan meeting last year, King Zhao proposed a coalition to attack Qin, and the five states of Wei, Chu, Qi, Yan, and Han all responded.

The allied forces of the six nations are now assembling and will soon advance westward.

He paused, then continued, "With the strength of my Great Qin alone, we can barely hold our own against the six other states."

However, according to reports from spies, the newly integrated five kingdoms are Han, Sui, Song, Yuan, and Ming.

They also covet my Great Qin.

If they collude with the six states and surround Qin on all sides... my great Qin will be in grave danger.

The main hall was deathly silent.

Everyone knew that Shang Yang was telling the truth.

The Qin Dynasty was too powerful, so powerful that it instilled fear in all its neighboring countries.

Fear often breeds the most vicious alliances.

"So," Shang Yang raised his head, a resolute glint in his eyes.

"Our Great Qin must find allies."

Looking at the world today, who can rival six or even eleven kingdoms...?

Only that new world, only that Qingyun Mountain, only that one—Dao Xuan Zhenren.

Ying Yiren frowned: "But will they really form an alliance with our Great Qin?"

"No," Shang Yang shook his head, his words resolute.

"Qingyun Sect is a sect dedicated to cultivating immortality, transcending worldly affairs, and would never easily intervene in the conflicts between mortal nations."

Not to mention that Dao Xuan Zhenren is a Golden Immortal, revered by all the heavens; how could he be exempted for the sake of our Great Qin?

"So, what does Minister Shang mean...?"

"Therefore, I propose..."

Shang Yang spoke slowly and deliberately.

"Let Young Master Zheng go to Qingyun Sect openly and honestly to become an apprentice and learn martial arts."

A collective gasp filled the hall.

Ying Yiren's pupils contracted slightly. Ying Zheng's pupils contracted slightly as well: "Become an apprentice?"

"Exactly," Shang Yang said in a deep voice. "As long as Young Master Zheng can successfully join the Qingyun Sect, even if he only becomes an ordinary disciple."

Thus, our Great Qin Dynasty established a close relationship with the Qingyun Sect.

At that time, if the six states want to touch my Great Qin again, they will have to think twice.

They faced not only the iron cavalry of the Qin Dynasty, but also...

It was the displeasure of the number one person in the world.

He looked at Ying Zheng, a glint of wisdom flashing in his eyes:

"As far as I know, although that Dao Xuan Zhenren is detached from worldly affairs, he values ​​relationships and is extremely protective of his own people."

If Young Master Zheng can gain his favor, or even be taken as his personal disciple…”

He didn't say what came next, but everyone understood.

Ying Yiren remained silent for a long time, his gaze sweeping over another figure in the hall—

He was a boy of about fifteen or sixteen years old, dressed in a black brocade robe and with a long sword at his waist.

His face was seven parts similar to Ying Yiren's, but he lacked some of the domineering nature and gained more composure.

They stood with their heads bowed, their expressions calm, as if they were not discussing their own fate.

His name was Ying Zheng—not Emperor Ying Zheng, but Crown Prince Ying Zheng.

The future crown prince of Qin, and Ying Yiren's most valued son.

"Zheng'er," Ying Yiren spoke slowly, "what do you think?"

The young Ying Zheng raised his head, his eyes showing no hesitation, only determination: "Your subject is willing to go."

Even if... I might never return? Even if... I have to leave my homeland and become an apprentice in a foreign land?

"If I can secure a sliver of hope for the Great Qin, I will gladly die for it." The young man's voice was calm, yet every word was resounding.

Ying Yiren looked deeply at his son, and after a long while, slowly nodded.

"allow."

One word determines the pronunciation.

The morning in Xianyang was shrouded in a somber atmosphere.

As the first ray of sunlight pierced through the clouds.

When the light shone on that dark palace complex, symbolizing the supreme authority of the Qin Dynasty,

The palace gates burst open with a roar.

A group of about thirty people rode out from the depths of the palace.

The horses' hooves made a crisp and rhythmic sound as they trod on the bluestone slabs.

Like the gentle beating of war drums, it shattered the silence of dawn.

In the center of the procession was an inconspicuous black carriage.

The carriage was made entirely of black iron, with fine defensive array patterns engraved on its surface.

Thick black curtains hung from the car windows, completely obscuring the view inside.

The four warhorses pulling the chariot were entirely black.

Only its four hooves are snow-white, making it a rare "Cloud-Treading Black Steed".

It can travel three thousand miles a day and walk on water as if it were flat ground.

More than twenty knights guarded the carriage from the front and back.

These knights were all dressed in light black armor, with Qin swords at their waists, their faces as cold as iron, and their eyes as sharp as eagles.

Their auras were refined, and even the weakest among them possessed the cultivation level of an Earth Immortal.

The three leading generals had even reached the early stage of the Celestial Immortal realm!

Such a lineup is enough to sweep aside a small country.

At the very front of the group stood a middle-aged general dressed in heavy black armor and wearing a scarlet cloak.

He sat astride a dragon-blooded warhorse that was over ten feet tall.

He had a resolute face, a bronze complexion, sharp eyebrows, and calm, unwavering eyes.

Yet it naturally exudes a murderous aura, like a mountain of corpses and a sea of ​​blood.

It was none other than Sima Cuo, a famous general of the Qin Dynasty and a peak-stage Celestial Immortal.

The group left Xianyang City and headed straight west without stopping.

Target: The vast land of China, the Qingyun Sect.

The news spread like wildfire, reaching all the major powers in the world within a single day.

Upon learning of this, powerful figures from all corners of the land, the Dou Qi Continent, and the four seas and eight wastelands displayed complex expressions.

"The Great Qin... is trying to take advantage of the Qingyun Sect's power."

"How will Dao Xuan Zhenren respond? Will he accept it, or not?"

"If the Crown Prince of Qin were to truly join the Qingyun Sect, the balance of power in the world would likely change."

The most intense reactions came from the other eleven major powers on the Warring States continent.

Almost at the same time the news reached, deep within the palaces of the eleven kingdoms.

Similar conversations rang out.

"We must not allow Ying Zheng to reach Qingyun Gate alive!"

"If the Qin Dynasty becomes involved with the Qingyun Sect, our Zhao Kingdom will be in grave danger!"

"Although the Chu cavalry is strong, they cannot withstand a Golden Immortal's sword... We must intercept and kill them!"

"Who should we send? Sima Cuo is at the peak of the mid-stage Celestial Immortal realm; ordinary experts are no match for him."

"Then... send a few more."