Fantasy: I, the Great Celestial Venerable of the Dao

If one country isn't enough, then two, three... eleven countries joining forces—wouldn't that kill Sima Cuo?

Thus, in a strange tacit agreement, the eleven kingdoms unanimously dispatched their respective top assassins and powerful warriors.

There is only one goal!

Before the Qin delegation entered the vast land of Shenzhou.

To completely eliminate that young crown prince named Ying Zheng!

For a time, the world, which had been temporarily at peace due to global integration, was disrupted.

A tense and oppressive atmosphere suddenly enveloped the area. All parties were watching and observing.

Countless eyes were fixed on the road leading west from Xianyang.

Waiting for the bloody scene to unfold.

Qingyun Gate, Tongtian Peak, Yuqing Hall.

The hall was shrouded in mist.

In the center of the hall, Dao Xuan Zhenren sat upright, his green robe spotless.

Below, Wan Jianyi, Cangsong, Zeng Shuchang, Tian Buyi, Xiao Yicai, Zhang Xiaofan, Lu Xueqi, and others lined up on both sides.

At this moment, Wan Jianyi frowned, holding a jade slip containing intelligence that had just been delivered.

The voice carried a clear displeasure:

"Senior brother, the matter of the Qin Dynasty... has already spread throughout the world."

He presented the jade slip and continued:

"The Qin delegation departed from Xianyang yesterday, personally escorted by the famous general Sima Cuo."

Crown Prince Ying Zheng was among the group.

According to intelligence from various sources, the remaining eleven kingdoms of Zhongzhou have dispatched at least eleven Celestial Immortal experts to intercept and kill them along the way.

Upon hearing this, the dozen or so people in the hall all stiffened.

Cangsong sneered: "What a clever way to leverage power."

That Qin emperor certainly had a good plan.

Zeng Shuchang stroked his beard and pondered, "Making the Crown Prince personally become my disciple... this is tantamount to binding my Qingyun Sect to the war chariot of the Great Qin."

Tian Buyi said in a deep voice, "If we really take in Ying Zheng, how will our Qingyun Sect conduct itself when Qin goes to war with other countries in the future?"

To help or not to help?

All eyes turned to Dao Xuan, who was seated at the head of the table.

Dao Xuan took the jade slip, scanned it with his divine sense, and grasped all the information within. His expression remained calm.

It was as if they were looking at a trivial matter.

"Junior brother, calm down." He looked at Wan Jianyi, his voice gentle yet carrying a calming power.

Wan Jianyi took a deep breath, suppressing his anger, but his brows remained furrowed:

"But senior brother, the Great Qin is clearly using us!"

"Using the power of the Qingyun Sect, we will intimidate eleven kingdoms!"

Dao Xuan remained noncommittal, his gaze sweeping over the others in the hall: "What do you all think?"

Xiao Yicai stepped forward, bowed, and spoke in a steady voice:

"Reporting to Master, I believe that the Qin Dynasty's actions do indeed have the intention of using our Qingyun Sect."

But what they seek may be more than just leveraging power.

More likely, they want to form an alliance with my Qingyun Sect, at least.

It's about establishing some kind of connection.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Xiaofan, Lu Xueqi, and the others all nodded in agreement.

Lin Jingyu added, "The Qin Dynasty is indeed strong, but it is ultimately not strong enough to fight eleven against one."

"If we could gain the support of my Qingyun Sect, even just nominally, it would be enough to make the eleven kingdoms hesitate to act rashly."

"Then let's follow your advice," Dao Xuan said slowly, his voice echoing in the empty hall.

"What should our Qingyun Sect do?"

The hall fell silent immediately.

The group looked at each other, and for a moment no one spoke.

They had their opinions on such a momentous matter that affected the entire world and involved the will of the Golden Immortals, but they dared not make a rash decision.

After a long while, Xiao Yi bowed again: "Please give me your guidance, Master."

Dao Xuan's gaze swept over the crowd, a profound glint in his eyes:

"Let me ask you, why is my Qingyun Sect trusted by all living beings and revered as the leader of the righteous path?"

Everyone fell into deep thought.

Dao Xuan continued, his voice calm yet powerful:

"Besides the essential strength, what makes my Qingyun Sect stand on the side of 'fairness' and 'justice' for thousands of years is that it has always been committed to them."

Impartial and unbiased, regardless of background, focusing only on good and evil.

"We will not get involved in national conflicts, nor will we interfere in dynastic changes; we will only protect the basic needs of the common people."

He paused, then looked at everyone: "This is the foundation."

"We will follow Master's (Senior Uncle's) teachings!" everyone replied in unison, their expressions solemn.

"So," Dao Xuan raised his hand, his tone indifferent.

"Regardless of whether the Qin Dynasty is using us or not, we just need to do our best and have a clear conscience."

If he can truly come to the foot of Qingyun Mountain and pass the entrance test, then that will be his opportunity;

If not, it has nothing to do with my Qingyun Sect.

Doing your best is the only guiding principle of Qingyun Sect.

No matter how the world changes, I remain steadfast.

With strength as the foundation and principles as the yardstick, one can be as stable as Mount Tai.

Cangsong pondered for a moment and said, "Senior brother, if that Qin crown prince can really reach the mountain gate and pass the test..."

Should we treat him differently?

"No need."

Dao Xuan shook his head, his tone resolute.

"Those who enter my Qingyun Sect are all disciples."

Regardless of background or origin, everyone is treated equally. This is the rule, and also the bottom line.

Zeng Shuchang stroked his beard, a look of curiosity on his face:

"Senior brother, it's strange."

According to intelligence reports, several of the twelve great nations of Zhongzhou are mentioned in their historical records.

Both contain records of "Qin unifying the world".

This matter... doesn't seem to be faked.

But now the world has changed drastically, and many nations stand side by side. Can history repeat itself?

Upon hearing this, everyone in the hall showed expressions of interest.

Yes, why do the histories of several countries point to the same ending?

Is there some unknown secret hidden behind this?

A profound look flashed in Dao Xuan's eyes as he slowly said, "The river of history flows on and on."

Similarities are not necessarily coincidences.

Perhaps... there exists an 'inevitability' at some level we have not yet reached.

But now that heaven and earth have merged and the laws have changed dramatically, anything is possible.

The past is not necessarily a prophecy of the future.

He waved his hand: "You may all leave. Let things take their natural course."

"yes!"

The crowd bowed and left the Yuqing Hall in turn.

In the empty hall, only Dao Xuan remained.

He looked eastward, his gaze seemingly piercing through layers of void, landing on the road leading west from Xianyang.

"Ying Zheng..."

He murmured the name, a complex emotion flickering in his eyes.

What a familiar name that is.

In that distant and hazy memory of my past life, this name represented an emperor who would reign supreme for all time.

It represents the standardization of writing and the unification of cart tracks, and symbolizes the great achievement of unification.

And now, the owner of this name...

He embarked on his journey to become an apprentice, posing as a fifteen-year-old boy.

Destiny is amazing.

A faint hint of curiosity flashed in his eyes.

Meanwhile, three thousand miles away from Xianyang, in a precipitous canyon.

The Qin delegation is traveling at high speed.

On both sides of the canyon are towering cliffs, jagged rocks, and not a blade of grass grows.

The valley floor was no more than ten feet wide, and the light was dim, with only a sliver of skylight filtering through the gaps overhead.

This place has a strategic location, easy to defend but difficult to attack, but it is also very easy to be ambushed.