The Three Teachings Converge into One: The Path of the Mortal and the Saintly is the Same

Poetry:

The snow-capped mountains are vast and the Buddha's light shines anew; having broken through the three passes, one can find true gold.

The precious light reunites, the cycle of reincarnation awakens, and the vast land shares this heart.

The mission continued its westward journey.

Gar Tongtsen led three thousand elite Tibetan cavalry as his escort.

This was the first "royal army" to be ordered to go on an expedition after Tibet submitted to the Tibetan Empire.

Inside the carriage, Su Qingxuan closed his eyes and regulated his breathing.

The true essence of the three religions within the body flows harmoniously and without obstruction.

He knew he was getting closer and closer to that final step.

but not now.

He wanted to see all the kingdoms of the Western Regions submit one by one, to see the Silk Road fully opened, and to see this grand blueprint of prosperity become a reality, stroke by stroke.

Outside the carriage, four women, Chi Ying, Lin Wanqing, Xiao Lingyue, and Xiao Lingxi, rode side by side.

The bright sun shone down, illuminating their young and determined faces.

The gleaming armor of the Imperial Guards and Tibetan cavalry behind them illuminated the scene.

Illuminate this sun-drenched road leading deep into the Western Regions.

Chide Songtsen was completely determined to submit to the Great Xia.

Those nobles, monks, and generals who had hesitated and watched, after witnessing the miracles of the Debate Platform and hearing about the origins of the "Four Symbols True Dharma," mostly developed awe and faith from the bottom of their hearts.

However, even a centipede, though dead, does not stiffen.

For thousands of years, the Tibetan Empire had been a powerful and deeply entrenched state, and there were always some who were unwilling to relinquish their power and sought to make a final stand.

Let's rewind ten days.

On the eve of his departure, Trisong Detsen hosted a farewell banquet at the Potala Palace.

During the banquet, the Tibetan king personally presented a scroll of sheepskin map and solemnly said:

"Sage Su, this is a detailed map of the thirty-six tribes and seventy-two mountain passes of Tibet, marking the fortresses, granaries, water sources and secret passages in various places."

"The young king wishes to present this map to the Great Xia as a sign of eternal submission and unwavering loyalty."

Su Qingxuan took it with both hands and unfolded it to examine it closely.

The instant his fingertips touched the parchment scroll, a strange warmth suddenly spread through his arms—

The three ancestral treasures of the Su family—a fragment of the Confucian mental cultivation manual (now known as the "The Righteous Spirit Chapter"), a bronze seal, and a ten-thousand-year-old spiritual wood—trembled slightly at the same time, emitting a resonance that only he could perceive.

This resonance is extraordinary.

These three treasures, which had been with him for a long time, had not shown such unusual activity.

Su Qingxuan's heart stirred, but his expression remained unchanged. He slowly closed the scroll and said gently:

"I am deeply impressed by the Tibetan king's sincerity. I will temporarily accept this map on behalf of the Great Xia, and present it to His Majesty upon my return to the capital. I will certainly request His Majesty to bestow generous rewards upon him, so as to forever solidify the friendship between Xia and Tibet."

As the banquet drew to a close late at night, a eunuch suddenly rushed in and whispered a few words in Gar Tongtsen's ear.

The old general's expression changed slightly, and he stood up and bowed to Su Qingxuan, saying:

"Prime Minister Su, I have just received a secret report that the seven noble families, including the Wei family, the Niang family, and the Xu Bu family, have suffered heavy losses at Yingchoujian and Xuexian Pass, but they have not given up."

"They've gathered their remaining forces, numbering around eight thousand, and colluded with remnants of the Xiangxiong tribe to ambush us at 'Ghost Cry Gorge,' a route we'll inevitably take tomorrow. What's even more troublesome is..."

He paused, his voice low: "They kidnapped over two thousand people, including the elderly, women, and children, from three tribes along the route, placed them before the army, and threatened..."

"If Prime Minister Su attacks, kill these hostages first. Since the hostages died because of Prime Minister Su, Tibet and Great Xia will be mortal enemies, and the alliance will be dissolved."

The hall fell silent instantly.

Zhou Wenjin slammed his fist on the table and stood up: "Despicable! Using the people as a shield!"

Trisong Detsen's face turned ashen: "These bastards! They're trying to bring shame upon Tibet and make it a target of universal condemnation!"

Su Qingxuan remained calm, as if he already knew about this, and only asked, "What is the terrain of Ghost Cry Gorge like?"

Gar Tongtsen quickly unfolded a map and pointed to a winding canyon:

"This gorge is twenty miles long, and at its narrowest point, it can only accommodate two horses side by side. The cliffs on both sides are over a hundred feet high, making it difficult for monkeys to climb."

"What's even more dangerous is that this place is often shrouded in fog, which never dissipates, making it difficult to spot a person even ten steps away."

They chose this location because they had calculated the opportune moment and the advantageous location.

Where are the hostages being held?

"According to intelligence, this is the place, 'Eagle Beak Rock,' and there is an open area a hundred meters away, so they stationed their troops here."

They stated that if Prime Minister Su was willing to enter the gorge alone for negotiations, they might consider releasing some of the hostages.

"No!" Chi Ying, Lin Wanqing, Xiao Lingyue, and Xiao Lingxi stood up almost simultaneously.

The moment the four women stood up, the three treasures in Su Qingxuan's arms trembled even more violently, especially the small bronze seal, which faintly emitted a light that could be seen through his clothes.

At the same time, all four women felt a jolt in their hearts, as if something long buried was about to break through the soil.

Su Qingxuan waved for them to sit down, his gaze falling on the map, pondering for a long time.

Suddenly, he asked, "General Gar, do you still have any absolutely loyal soldiers under your command who are familiar with the terrain of Ghost Cry Gorge?"

"Yes!" Gar Dongzan puffed out his chest. "My son, Gar Qinling, leads three hundred personal guards, all sons of hunters who grew up in the Ghost Cry Gorge area. They can walk through the gorge with their eyes closed."

My son has long admired Prime Minister Su and is determined to serve him to the death!

"Okay." Su Qingxuan nodded, but a wisp of his mind had already been drawn into the strange sensation generated by the resonance of the three treasures in his arms.

In that mystical state, he "saw" a three-dimensional view of Ghost Cry Gorge—

Not only can you see the surface terrain, but you can also see underground rivers, natural caves, and hidden passages.

One of the cave entrances is located thirty feet below Eagle's Beak Rock.

"At midnight tonight, I order Qinling to lead three hundred men, lightly armed and carrying ropes and hooks, to secretly infiltrate from the 'Eagle Beak Rock' on the north side of Ghost Cry Gorge."

Su Qingxuan pointed to a spot on the map and said with certainty, "Thirty feet below Eagle Beak Rock, there is a natural cave that can accommodate five hundred people."

"Have them hide in the cave. Tomorrow, when our army engages the enemy, they will come out on my command to launch a coordinated attack from within and without, specifically to rescue the hostages."

Gar Dongzan was taken aback: "How did Minister Su know there was a cave under Eagle's Beak Rock? That cave is extremely well hidden; I only discovered it by chance when I was young..."

Su Qingxuan smiled slightly but did not explain.

He knew in his heart that this time it was not his own perception, but a message from the ancient spiritual wood in his arms.

This spirit tree seems to be connected to the earth's veins, able to sense the secrets of mountains and rivers.

As the spirit tree transmitted the information, several lines of ancient seal script from the "Treatise on Righteousness" also appeared in his sea of ​​consciousness, lines that had never been seen before:

"The earth's veins are spiritually connected, and all things possess consciousness. By aligning one's heart with the Dao and observing things through the Dao, the subtle and hidden will surely be revealed, and the obscure and mysterious can be discerned."

It turns out that the "Chapter on Righteousness" requires specific conditions to reveal more of its content.

At this moment, under the resonance of the Three Treasures and the interaction of the four women's energies, it is gradually "awakening".

Xiao Lingxi suddenly let out a soft "Eh," and pointed to the location of Eagle Beak Rock on the map: "Brother Su, this place... I feel like I've seen it in a dream."

"In my dream, I was holding a compass and leading a group of craftsmen to carve out a passage here... There was an underground river in the cave that led directly to the Black Dragon Pool on the south side of the canyon."

As she said this, a hint of confusion flashed in her eyes, as if she were trying to recall some distant dream.

Chi Ying, Lin Wanqing, and Xiao Lingyue also showed similar expressions.

Chi Ying murmured, "I've dreamt about it too... In my dream, I set up traps and mechanisms in that cave to guard against pursuers."

Lin Wanqing said softly, "I recorded the passage's route and drew a map in my dream."

Xiao Lingyue clasped her hands together and said, "In my dream, I set up an altar in the cave and chanted scriptures to purify the malevolent energy that had accumulated here for thousands of years."

After the four finished speaking, they looked at each other in astonishment.

Their dreams actually corroborated each other and perfectly matched what Su Qingxuan had said!

Su Qingxuan was shaken, but his face remained calm: "It seems that we do indeed have a predestined connection with this Ghost Cry Gorge."

He looked at the four women and said gently, "Lingxi, tomorrow the canyon will be shrouded in mist and miasma; the enemy will surely use poison. I need you to concoct a medicine to ward off the miasma and neutralize the poison, and distribute it to the entire army. Can you do it?"

Xiao Lingxi took a deep breath and nodded vigorously: "Yes! I've collected seventeen kinds of herbs from the surrounding area of ​​Luoxie these past few days and have already tried to concoct three prescriptions, which can deal with different kinds of miasma. Moreover..."

I seem to know instinctively which herbs grow where in the canyon.

"Good." Su Qingxuan then looked at Lin Wanqing. "Wanqing, you are well-versed in Tibetan customs and traditions. Do you know anything special about the three tribes that have been held hostage?"

After a moment's thought, Lin Wanqing's answer this time was more fluent and precise than ever before, as if this knowledge had always been in her mind:

"These three tribes are all 'Gyarong' tribes, who worship the 'White Eagle God' in Bon religion."

"But his ancestors were enlightened by a 'white-robed saint' from the East and secretly inherited a breathing method of 'upholding righteousness and dispelling evil'."

Their men mostly served as soldiers under the command of the Wei and Niang clans; they appeared fierce, but in reality, they were weary of war.

"What's more, this time their wife and daughters were taken hostage..."

"I can draft a letter, written in the ancient Jiarong script, explaining the advantages and disadvantages, which will surely touch his heart."

Su Qingxuan gave her a deep look and nodded: "I'll leave this matter to you."

He then said to Xiao Lingyue, "Lingyue, killing is inevitable in the canyon, and the souls of the dead gather there."

"Please prepare plenty of prayer flags and talismans; they will be used to pray for the souls of the deceased and to comfort the living..."

I sensed that deep within that canyon, there seemed to be an ancient altar, where resentment had accumulated and needed to be purified through Buddhist teachings.

Xiao Lingyue clasped her hands together and said, "I feel the same way. The ancient altar is located at Eagle Beak Rock."

Finally, he looked at Chi Ying: "Chi Ying, tomorrow's battle will be extremely dangerous."

You will arrange for the vanguard team to avoid direct combat and instead assist in the rescue of Qinling, while you will follow me and specialize in decapitations—

Locate the enemy leader and kill him in one strike.

"I sensed a familiar evil aura tainted on the enemy leader, Wei Qilixu... It may be related to some being in the Abyss of the Far North."

Chi Ying pursed her lips and nodded emphatically: "I understand. Last night I dreamt that I was fighting a black-robed demon, using a spear technique I had never learned before... Tomorrow, I will use this spear technique."

The arrangements were finalized, and everyone prepared accordingly.

That night, Su Qingxuan sat alone in his quiet room, took out three treasures, and examined them closely under the lamp.

On the silk of "The Righteous Spirit of the Confucian School", the originally blurred characters are now much clearer, revealing more of the profound meaning of "Confucianism".

The bronze seal gleamed softly under the lamplight, and the landscape patterns on the seal knob seemed to come alive, moving slightly in his palm.

The ancient spiritual wood exudes a warm and moist vitality, which blends seamlessly with the true energy within his body.

"Ancestor..." Su Qingxuan gently stroked the three treasures, murmuring softly, "Back then... what were the origins of these four women?"

As if in response to his question, the resonance of the Three Jewels suddenly intensified!

Three soft white halos rose from the treasure, weaving together in the air to create a series of flowing images—

That was a world in the beginning of chaos, where the sky was shattered and the earth was cracked.

In the scene, a man in white stands in the void, his appearance bearing a seven-tenths resemblance to Su Qingxuan, but with a more ancient and weathered look, and the sun, moon, and stars seem to flow between his brows.

He was enveloped in a clear light.

A scroll of silk (Confucianism) is unfurled in mid-air above his head, a small seal (Taoism) is held in his left hand, and a piece of green wood (Buddha) is grasped in his right hand. This is the complete form of the Three Treasures!

Four women stood beside the man in white.

In her previous life, Chi Ying was a female general in full military uniform, wielding two swords with sword energy soaring to the sky.

In her previous life, Lin Wanqing was a female historian dressed as a scholar in a blue robe, holding a book in her hands, exuding a noble and righteous aura;

In her previous life, Xiao Lingyue was a Buddhist nun in black robes and straw sandals, her prayer beads swirling, radiating Buddhist light.

In her previous life, Xiao Lingxi was a herb-gathering woman in a Taoist robe and medicine bag, holding a Ganoderma lucidum, full of vitality.

The four women formed a protective formation, shielding the man in white in the center.

Opposite them was a boundless, writhing, and churning black demonic cloud.

Within the demonic clouds, countless ferocious faces appeared and disappeared, unleashing deafening roars:

"Sages of the Three Teachings! You have obstructed my demonic path and ruined my grand plan. Today, I will annihilate you, body and soul, and condemn you to eternal damnation!"

The man in white remained calm: "Demon Lord, you have achieved your path by devouring all living beings of the Three Realms. This path defies the heavens and will surely incur divine retribution!"

"Today, I will act on behalf of Heaven to carry out the punishment..."

"Hahaha!" The Demon Lord laughed wildly.

"You? You think you can compete with these four maids?"

"I have mastered the 'Return of All Demons to Their Origin' technique. Unless you are willing to sacrifice yourself and your own Dao fruit as a sacrifice to seal me—"

But if you do that, your own soul will be scattered and you will be forever obliterated! Do you dare?! Hahaha..."

The man in white remained silent.

He looked at the shattered Three Realms, at the creatures wailing in the demonic energy, and at the worried eyes of the four women.

Finally, he smiled.

That smile held reluctance and regret, but even more so, a resolute determination.

"Where the Way lies, I will go, though there be thousands upon thousands!"

"The weight of all living beings is heavier than my own!"

His voice was righteous and awe-inspiring, then he turned to the four women and said:

"After I am gone, you must live well. The unity of the three religions is not yet complete."

"In the future, my descendants will inherit this ambition and complete what we have not finished. At that time, you must go and help them."

"No! Su Sheng!" the four women cried out in anguish.

The man in white said no more.

He threw out the silk scroll, the small seal, and the green wood in his hand. The three treasures merged in the air and transformed into a beam of chaotic light that pierced through heaven and earth.

He himself transformed into countless points of light, merging into the chaotic light—

"I offer my body as a sacrifice to the righteous path of Heaven and Earth!"

"With my soul, I will subdue the eternal Demon Lord!"

"The three religions unite as one, seal it off!"

boom--!

The chaotic light completely engulfed and sealed the demonic cloud.

The figure of the man in white, along with the three treasures, vanished in the light.

Only a faint thought split into four strands, entering between the four women's brows:

"When my bloodline reappears and the Three Treasures are reunited, that will be the day you awaken to your mission. Help him to achieve the unity of the three religions, and for mortals and saints to walk the same path... This is the ultimate wish of my path..."

The image is shattered.

Su Qingxuan opened his eyes, his face already streaked with tears. This time, what he "saw" was a clearer and more complete picture of his ancestors than before.

He finally understood why he had been obsessed with the "unity of the three religions" since childhood, why he felt a natural affinity for the four women, and why the three treasures chose him.

"I've never been walking my own path; I'm fulfilling the unfinished mission of my ancestors..."

He murmured, "And they didn't meet by chance; they came to help me again after a hundred thousand years of reincarnation."

Just then, the door to the quiet room was gently pushed open.

The four women arrived at the door at the same time, each with tears in their eyes and an emotional expression.

"Brother Su, I just... saw it," Xiao Lingxi said, choking back tears.

"I saw it too," Lin Wanqing said, wiping away her tears.

"That saint in white is our master, and also your ancestor."

Chi Ying clenched her fists: "I finally understand where my martial arts skills come from and where they should be used."

Xiao Lingyue clasped her hands together, tears streaming down her face: "Ten thousand years of reincarnation, all for this moment. Amitabha, it turns out that my life was for protecting the Dao."

Su Qingxuan stood up, solemnly placed the three treasures on the table, and bowed deeply to the four women: "Su Qingxuan, on behalf of my ancestors, thanks the four ladies for their unwavering loyalty over ten thousand years and for their undying gratitude through countless reincarnations."

The four women hurriedly returned the greeting.

Chi Ying said, "Brother Qingxuan, please don't do this. To be able to encounter the bloodline of a sage again and fulfill our master's last wish is what we have longed for through countless reincarnations."

"Master and servant in a past life, now we walk the same path."

Su Qingxuan said solemnly, "From now on, we shall address each other as fellow believers and treat each other as comrades, together proving the great path of 'the unity of the three teachings, and the common path of the mortal and the saint.' Is that acceptable?"

The four women looked at each other and nodded repeatedly.

At this moment, the karmic entanglements of ten thousand years, the intertwining of past and present lives, finally make the mission clear.

Su Qingxuan regained his composure.

At this moment, they had arrived at Ghost Cry Gorge—a gorge shrouded in thick fog.

Ghost Cry Gorge truly lived up to its name. As soon as you entered, you felt a chilling wind and a thick fog that was impossible to dispel. You could not see a person more than a few steps away.

Even more eerie, a faint wailing sound could be heard in the wind, like the weeping of ten thousand ghosts, sending chills down one's spine.

Su Qingxuan led 1,500 Imperial Guards and 2,500 Tibetan troops, totaling 4,000 men, into the gorge.

He ordered the army to slow down, and he rode ahead alongside Gar Tongtsen, with the four women following behind.

The three treasures in his arms continued to emit a warm resonance.

Especially that ancient tree trunk, which seemed to faintly point in a certain direction deep within the canyon—

This is the "ancient altar" that Xiao Lingyue mentioned.

After walking about three miles, the fog dissipated slightly, and the scene ahead made one's heart sink.

On the open ground, more than two thousand people, mostly the elderly, women, and children, were kneeling in a dark mass, bound together by ropes, their expressions filled with terror.

Eight hundred Tibetan soldiers stood guard around them, armed with swords.

Not far away, more than 7,000 rebel soldiers were lined up in battle formation, including noble leaders such as Wei Qilixu, Niang Shangnang, and Xubu Dairen.

Behind the rebel army's ranks, an altar made of skulls and black banners stood out prominently.

On the altar, three high priests of the Xiangxiong tribe, their faces veiled in black robes, were dancing and casting spells. At the center of the altar stood a black statue with three heads and six arms—

The appearance of that golem was somewhat similar to the demon lord that Su Qingxuan had seen in his illusion last night!

"It's the evil spirit fragment of the Demon Lord that remains in the world—just like the Demon Abyss in the far north!" Su Qingxuan's heart skipped a beat.

The three treasures in her arms trembled more violently, signaling a warning.

"Su Qingxuan! You've finally arrived!" Wei Qilixu rode out into the fray, his voice booming like a broken gong.

But upon closer inspection, his eyes glowed with an abnormal red light, and his voice carried a superhuman quality, as if another being was speaking through his mouth.

Su Qingxuan's expression remained unchanged; he simply said, "Clan Chief Wei, your mind has been corrupted by evil spirits. Why haven't you awakened yet?"

"Awakening?" Wei Kilimanjaro (or rather, the entity controlling him) chuckled strangely.

"My true self has been sealed away by that old bastard for tens of thousands of years. I finally managed to reunite a wisp of my spiritual essence through these ignorant mortals, and I'm about to break free with your blood! Minions, kill—!"

The rebels sprang into action.

But at that moment, something unexpected happened!

The dozens of letters that Lin Wanqing wrote last night in the ancient Jiarong script are now flying into the air on their own, drifting like snowflakes into the rebel ranks.

When the soldiers of the Jiarong tribe received the letter, saw the familiar ancient script, and felt the righteous spirit contained between the lines, they were immediately in an uproar!

"It's a message from our ancestral spirits!"

"These characters... are the legendary 'sacred script'!"

It turns out that when Lin Wanqing was writing, she unconsciously used an ancient seal script from her past life. In the ancient legends of the Jiarong tribe, this script was the "sacred script" taught by the "white-robed saint".

Seeing this now is like witnessing a miracle.

"Don't believe these lies!" V. Kilimanjaro roared, swinging his sword at a soldier who was reading the letter.

"Whoosh whoosh-"

Dozens of crossbow bolts were fired from the rebel ranks, aimed directly at the leaders such as Wei Qilixu, Niang Shangnang, and Xubu Dairen!

The Garze soldiers have defected!

"Now!" Su Qingxuan shouted the order.

"Spearhead team, coordinate with Qinling to rescue the person!"

"The Imperial Guards and Dongzan launch a frontal assault!"

"Lingyue, you're in charge of purifying the altar!"

"Wanqing, play it by ear!"

"Red Tassel—come and behead me!"

With the assignments settled, Su Qingxuan lightly touched his toes and, like a roc soaring into the sky, rushed straight towards the altar!

Chi Ying followed closely behind, wielding his red-tasseled spear with a sweeping motion, its energy surging forth.

On the altar, the three high priests roared in unison.

With a wave of his bone staff, the three-headed, six-armed demonic statue's eyes blazed with red light, shooting out three jets of dark demonic light that aimed straight at Su Qingxuan!

"A trivial skill."

Su Qingxuan neither dodged nor avoided; the small bronze seal flew out automatically, hovering above his head and casting a clear light.

When the magical light touched Qinghui, it was like snow melting instantly upon contact with boiling water.

"This is... the Daoist treasure 'Mountain and River Seal'?!" A high priest exclaimed in shock.

Before he finished speaking, Su Qingxuan had already arrived at the altar.

He pointed his fingers like a sword, making a sweeping motion in the air—

It was the "Sword of Righteous Heart" that appeared in the "Treatise on Righteousness" that was used.

The sword energy is formless, yet it contains a vast and unyielding righteous spirit.

With a single sword strike, the altar's protective barrier shattered!

"Demon Lord's remnant soul, submit to destruction!"

Su Qingxuan's voice was like thunder, and the ten-thousand-year-old spiritual wood hung in mid-air, radiating golden light.

A powerful, vibrant aura of Buddhist Vajra energy surged forth like a tide.

Wherever it passed, the demonic energy dissipated.

The red light in the eyes of the rebels, corrupted by demonic energy, faded, and they collapsed to the ground in a daze.

"No—! I refuse to accept this!"

The golem let out a shrill roar, then exploded, turning into a cloud of black smoke as it tried to escape.

"If we don't cross now, when will we?" Xiao Lingyue's voice rang out.

She had arrived at the altar without realizing it.

With hands clasped together, the ancient "Seven Treasures Tranquilizing Sandalwood Beads" hung high above his head, radiating boundless Buddhist light.

The Buddha's light, like a net, firmly enveloped the dark energy.

"Rebirth Mantra, activate!—"

"Namo Amitabha Buddha, Tathagata Buddha, Tadyatha, Amitabha Buddha, Amitabha Buddha, Siddham Buddha, Amitabha Buddha, Vikaranti, Amitabha Buddha, Vikaranta, Gamini, Gagana, Kritakali, Svaha..."

The chanting of Buddhist scriptures filled the air, and the Buddha's light shone everywhere.

The black energy twisted and struggled in the Buddha's light, eventually turning into wisps of green smoke and being completely purified.

Almost simultaneously, Chi Ying appeared before Wei Qilixu like a ghost.

At this moment, Vykkilichu was already suffering from the backlash of the golem's explosion, bleeding from all seven orifices and appearing to be insane.

Seeing the red tassel coming, he roared and swung his sword fiercely.

A cold glint flashed in Chi Ying's eyes.

The marksmanship she had seen in her dream last night flashed through her mind—

It is the "Demon-Slaying Spear Technique" taught by the white-robed saint of the previous life, which is specifically designed to break demonic arts.

At that moment, inspiration struck; with a flick of the spear tip, it blossomed like a lotus flower.

"Lotus Flower Slays Demons - Cleave!"

As the spear flashed, the curved blade in Wei Kilimanjaro's hand was broken in two, and a red mark appeared between his eyebrows.

He stared wide-eyed at Chi Ying in disbelief as he slowly collapsed to the ground.

A wisp of black smoke drifted out from his corpse, attempting to escape, but was completely shredded by Chi Ying's backhand spear.

With his commander dead and the golem destroyed, Su Qingxuan's fighting style was no ordinary person.

The rebels lost all will to fight and completely collapsed!

The remaining leaders, including Niang Shangnang and Xubu Dairen, were captured alive.

The battle is over.

Xiao Lingxi directed the medical team to treat the wounded. The antidote and detoxification medicine she prepared was extremely effective. Many soldiers who had inhaled the poisonous fog recovered quickly after taking it.

Lin Wanqing comforted the hostages and spoke with them in fluent Jiarong language.

They promised how the Great Xia would settle them, which gradually calmed the terrified people.

Su Qingxuan walked to the ruins of the altar, bent down and picked up a black fragment—

It was a remnant from the golem's explosion; it was cold to the touch, and seemed to have an undercurrent flowing inside.

He sensed that a faint trace of the Demon Lord's remnant soul still lingered within the fragment.

"Your ancestors used force to break the seal on you, and ten thousand years later, you still dare to cause trouble..."

After ascension, a method for sealing will need to be sought.

Su Qingxuan sighed softly, held the fragment in his palm, and activated the power of the Three Treasures.

The righteous spirit of Confucianism, the power of mountains and rivers from the bronze seal, and the vitality of the ancient spiritual wood merged together, transforming into a chaotic force that was injected into the fragment.

"Sizzle..."

The fragment emitted wisps of smoke, and the last trace of demonic intent was completely refined, transforming into a jet-black crystal that was pure and flawless.

Su Qingxuan could sense that the crystal contained pure energy. Although it originated from the Demon Lord, it had been purified by the Three Treasures, removing the impurities and retaining the essence, making it highly usable.

"Brother Su, what is this...?" Xiao Lingxi asked curiously as she approached.

"The 'Purifying Demon Crystal' formed from the remnant soul of the Demon Lord."

Su Qingxuan handed her the crystal, saying, "You are well-versed in medicine and pharmacology; this item may have remarkable effects on your future alchemy and healing of the wounded. Keep it safe."

Xiao Lingxi accepted it solemnly and kept it close to her body.

At this moment, Gar Chinling arrived with 500 personal guards. All the hostages they rescued, together with the Arrowhead Team, were unharmed.

Upon seeing Su Qingxuan, the young general knelt on one knee and exclaimed excitedly:

"Prime Minister Su's strategy was brilliant! There really was an underground river passage in the cave. Following the map and with the help of the Vanguard Team warriors, we finally rescued the hostages without a single casualty!"

Su Qingxuan helped him up and said gently, "It is thanks to your father's excellent training and the soldiers' bravery that you deserve the greatest credit in this battle."

Clean up the battlefield and take stock of casualties.

In this battle, the Imperial Guards suffered 87 dead and more than 200 wounded.

The Tibetan army that surrendered suffered 120 dead and over 300 wounded.

The rebels suffered over a thousand casualties and more than six thousand were captured.

Su Qingxuan ordered that the fallen soldiers be given a grand funeral, treating them equally regardless of whether they were from the Xia army or the Tibetan army that had submitted to him.

Those prisoners who were willing to surrender were dispersed and incorporated into Gar Tongtsen's forces; those who were unwilling were given travel expenses and sent back.

The hostage tribespeople allocated grain and cloth from the Tibetan royal treasury to help them rebuild their homes.

Each order, combining leniency and severity, not only demonstrated the grandeur of the Celestial Empire but also solidified the foundation of public sentiment.

The rescued civilians and the surrendered soldiers looked at Su Qingxuan with eyes full of gratitude and awe.

The Battle of Ghost Cry Gorge completely eliminated the last remaining pro-war forces within the Tibetan Empire.

When the news reached Lhasa, the minor nobles and tribal chiefs who were still wavering surrendered one after another.

The entire Tibetan territory has now truly come to its rightful place!

Ten days later, Su Qingxuan led the Great Xia delegation back to Lhasa.

With the entire territory of Tibet now under our control, we must renegotiate the treaty and hold formal ceremonial regalia to demonstrate the power and prestige of the Celestial Empire!

South of Lhasa, a new "Xia-Fan Alliance Oath Altar" was built.

This altar is nine zhang high and has three levels, representing the three elements of "heaven, earth, and man".

The lower level is built with black stone, representing the profound and weighty nature of Tibet.

The middle layer is built with blue bricks, symbolizing the inheritance of the civilization of the Great Xia Dynasty;

The upper layer is paved with white marble, symbolizing the purity and innocence of the Xia and Fan families.

Nine dragon-carved stone pillars stand around the altar, inscribed with the full text of the alliance in both Xia and Tibetan languages.

The auspicious hour has arrived, and the sun is rising in the east.

Below the altar, 100,000 soldiers and civilians stood in solemn silence.

On the left, the Imperial Guards, clad in their bright armor, stood solemnly like mountains;

On the right, the Tibetan army is impeccably dressed, their eyes burning with fervor.

Further away, countless Tibetan people, young and old, eagerly awaited their arrival.

On the altar, Su Qingxuan and Chide Songtsen stood side by side.

Su Qingxuan was dressed in a purple prime minister's court robe, and the three treasures in his arms were slightly warm under his clothes, as if they were also happy for this moment.

Trisong Detsen then changed into the robes of the Great Xia Dynasty princes—this

It departed from Luoyang by fast horse a month ago and arrived three days ago.

The imperial edict conferring upon him the titles of "King of Guiyi and Protector-General of Tibet" arrived along with his robes.

Gar Tongtsen, Zhou Wenjin, Prince Songtsen, as well as tribal leaders and high-ranking monks from major monasteries of Tibet, were seated on either side of the altar.

Chi Ying, Lin Wanqing, Xiao Lingyue, and Xiao Lingxi, the four women, each wore a dress with their own unique style.

Three steps behind Su Qingxuan stood the four symbols of military strategy, Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism, all gathered to protect the Great Way.

Their gazes became even more resolute, for they knew that they were not only fulfilling their duties in this life, but also completing their mission for ten thousand lifetimes of reincarnation.

At the third quarter of the hour of Chen (7:45 AM), horns sounded loudly, and bells and drums played in unison.

Trisong Detsen was the first to step forward, facing east towards Luoyang, and performed the grand ceremony of three kneelings and nine kowtows. He then unfurled the bright yellow edict and read it aloud.

The edict was written in both Chinese and Tibetan languages, detailing the terms of submission...

Every clause was painstakingly drafted by Su Qingxuan, Lin Wanqing, and others.

The people below the altar seemed to understand but not quite, but they understood the words "land redistribution," "tax exemption," "opening trade routes," "building schools," and "sending doctors"—these were the hopes for a better life.

Many people were already moved to tears.

After the imperial edict was read aloud, Trisong Detsen presented the Tibetan imperial seal, map of the territory, register of nobles, and yellow register of households to Su Qingxuan with both hands, kneeling down.

"The entire Tibetan Empire respectfully obeys the decree of the Heavenly Khan! From this day forward, Xia and Tibet are one family, forever brothers!"

This oath is sworn by Heaven and Earth, witnessed by the snow-capped mountains; if I break this oath, may I be forsaken by both gods and men, and never to be redeemed again for all eternity!

Su Qingxuan accepted it solemnly.

The moment his hands touched the seal, the resonance of the Three Jewels reached its peak!

A chaotic light, invisible to the naked eye, emanated from his bosom, enveloping the entire oath altar and spreading to the 100,000 soldiers and civilians present.

In that instant, everyone felt a sense of clarity, as if cleansed by a hot spring, all distracting thoughts vanishing...

All that remains is the yearning for peace, the hope for the future, and the longing for the "Tao".

Even the nobles who were originally unwilling to accept this situation have inexplicably calmed down and have begun to think, "Perhaps this is not so bad."

This is the power of "purification" and "enlightenment" that spontaneously arises after the three treasures are combined. Although it is only for a moment, it is enough to change many people's lives.

Su Qingxuan turned to face the 100,000 soldiers and civilians below the altar, raised the imperial edict in his hand, and spoke in a voice as loud as a bell:

"From this day forward, Xia and Tubo will forever be brothers! The territories of Great Xia and Tubo will be inseparable, and their people will all be our subjects!"

"May there be no more war in the snowy land, and may the plateau enjoy eternal peace!"

"May the Xia civilization and the Tibetan people's bravery coexist and advance together, creating a glorious and prosperous era!"

"Long live the Heavenly Khan! Xia and Fan are one family! We will be brothers forever!"

One hundred thousand soldiers and civilians shouted in unison, their voices like a tsunami or a landslide, echoing across the snowy plateau for a long time.

The ceremony is complete!

Su Qingxuan then took out a scroll of his own handwritten "Memorial on Governing the Barbarians" and handed it to Trisong Detsen.

This book is extremely detailed and can be considered a treasure trove for governing Tibetan areas.

Trisong Detsen took the book with trembling hands, and after flipping through only a few pages, his eyes were already filled with tears.

He suddenly took three steps back, straightened his clothes, and performed a full-fledged kowtow (three kneelings and nine prostrations) before Su Qingxuan:

"The kindness of the Sage Su in imparting knowledge, resolving doubts, and bringing peace and stability to the country will never be forgotten by the people of Tibet!"

"I, Xiao Wang, will take this book as my guide and put it into practice. I will surely transform Tibet and live up to the high expectations of the emperor and the great favor of the Celestial Empire!"

Su Qingxuan helped him up and said gently, "Your Majesty, you flatter me. Governing a large country is like cooking a small fish; it requires slow and gentle simmering, without haste or impatience."

"You have a benevolent heart, General Gar has the talent to command troops, Prince Songtsen has the ambition to learn, there are reasonable people among the Tibetan nobles, and countless simple and honest people. With everyone of one mind, how can Tibet not prosper?"

"One day, when Tibet is prosperous and civilized, that will be the best reward for me and for the Great Xia."

He then looked at the eager Tibetan youths below the altar and proclaimed, "Tibetan lads! Your bravery should not be confined to the battlefield!"

"Digging irrigation canals requires strength; building roads requires perseverance; protecting caravans requires courage; reclaiming wasteland requires tenacity!"

"The future of this snowy plateau is in your hands!"

"We will be warriors! We will build our homeland! We will protect our civilization!" Thousands of Tibetan youths raised their arms and roared.

The meeting lasted for three days.

For three days, the city of Lhasa became a sea of ​​joy.

The Tibetan people sang and danced, celebrating the arrival of peace.

The Imperial Guards and the Tibetan allied forces exchanged martial arts skills and resources.

Lin Wanqing's "document team" set up booths on the streets to explain the covenant to the people;

Xiao Lingxi's "medical team" provides free medical consultations;

Xiao Lingyue led the monks in holding a Buddhist ceremony;

Chi Ying assisted in the reorganization of the army.

Su Qingxuan was also busy.

He met daily with tribal leaders, high-ranking monks from temples, and elders from the community to listen to their demands, answer their questions, and mediate conflicts.

In just ten days, his prestige among the Tibetan people reached an unprecedented height.

A month later, the mission will set off for the west.

Trisong Detsen led his officials thirty li outside the city to see him off, presenting him with three thousand fine horses, five thousand yak cattle, ten cartloads of rare medicinal herbs, and countless Tibetan specialties.

Along the route, which stretched for hundreds of miles, Tibetan people spontaneously knelt by the roadside, offering hada scarves, cheese, and barley wine, shouting "May the Holy Man Su have a safe journey."

Su Qingxuan returned the greetings one by one.

After traveling ten miles to a high slope, he reined in his horse and looked back.

Lhasa shines brightly in the morning light, the golden roof of the Potala Palace sparkles, the snow-capped mountains stand majestically in the distance, and the sacred lake is crystal clear.

This ancient and suffering land has finally turned a new page and ushered in the dawn.

"Prime Minister Su, Tibet has been pacified. Should we return directly to Luoyang, or...?" Zhou Wenjin asked.

Su Qingxuan withdrew his gaze and looked towards the vast expanse of the western world: "No rush to return to the capital."

"Although Tibet has been pacified, the Western Regions are not yet at peace."

"Bolu, Dayuan, Yuezhi, Wusun, Kangju... these countries..."

"Some are neither close nor distant from our Great Xia, some are deeply connected with Tibet, and some are still observing."

Now that we have left Yumen Pass, we must ensure that this mission is carried out perfectly.

He paused, his eyes gleaming with wisdom and determination: "The submission of Tibet is a momentous event in the Western Regions. All other nations will be shaken and terrified upon hearing the news."

"Now is the perfect time to take advantage of this great momentum, go west to appease them, explain the advantages and disadvantages, and invite them to an alliance."

"I have taken the unfinished path of 'the unity of the three religions and the common path of the mortals and saints' in Tibet, then in the Western Regions, and throughout the world."

"I want this glorious era to not only illuminate the Great Xia Dynasty, but also benefit all nations, so that the spirits of our ancestors in heaven may find solace!"

"We are willing to follow Prime Minister Su to establish our rule in the Western Regions and usher in an era of lasting peace!" the generals roared in unison.

The group continued westward.

Ahead lies the vast, mysterious, and fraught with hidden dangers of the Western Regions.

But the Great Xia delegation at this moment had been completely transformed.

Gar Chinling led three thousand of his elite troops to accompany him.

Although the Imperial Guards only had about 1,500 men left, they became a true iron army.

The four women awaken their past life memories and each has their own strengths.

With the Three Treasures in his possession, Su Qingxuan achieved perfect harmony with the Great Dao and, with the overwhelming momentum of Tibet's submission, his Dao shone brightly like the rising sun.

Behind them, atop Lhasa city walls, Trisong Detsen and Gar Tongtsen stood side by side, gazing into the distance.

"Zanpu... no, Protector-General," Gar Dongzan said softly, "do you think Sage Su can succeed? The kingdoms of the Western Regions are not easy to deal with."

Chide Songtsen's gaze was profound: "If it were anyone else, I dare not say. But if it were Sage Su..."

He paused, then said with unwavering conviction, "I believe that this vast Western Region will eventually, like my Tubo, be bathed in the light of the Celestial Empire's civilization."

And we, the Tibetans, will be the first to let this light shine upon the Western Regions, setting an example of Xia and Tibet as one family, of unifying the world!

Sunlight shines on the snowy plateau, illuminating this newly reborn ancient city and a bright, hopeful road leading to the distant western regions.

A truly glorious and inclusive era is slowly unfolding its magnificent prelude from the roof of the world.

It is:

The battle on the snowy plateau determines life and death; the three passes test the true gold.

Jingwei shed her blood to pave the way to heaven, and the Great Way returns to the heart, bringing peace to the four seas.