Chapter 641: The Son of Heaven Converges

"The power of incense and belief has increased again, and by a great deal. It seems that after the fall of Yin Son of Heaven, all the incense belief in the world is converging toward the few who remain. Even I, as Imperial Preceptor, feel it—how much more so my father?"

Li Yi could now clearly sense that, during this period, the power of incense and belief within him had grown stronger than ever before, as if solidified into substance, merging with his magic power and causing a faint, pure radiance to shimmer around his body.

At this moment, he felt omnipotent, possessing divine might capable of shaking heaven and earth, stronger than he had ever been—so much so that it felt unreal.

Yet Li Yi was not deceived by this temporary strength, for as soon as he left this world and severed the flow of incense and belief, he would return to his usual state.

The one who benefited most from this was Xiangxiangzi.

She had used the Seven-Colored Stone to forge a new body, then relied on the power of incense and belief to restore her primordial spirit. Only a few days had passed, yet she had been utterly transformed—cloaked in auroras, radiant with auspicious light, as if a goddess had descended from heaven.

Though her strength had not yet returned to its peak, given time, within this world she would surely become a Dao-attainer—and perhaps even advance further.

"Taiyi," said Xiangxiangzi, "it seems others besides us and you have recently moved against Yin Son of Heaven. Your father must have acted too, for I've sensed two unreasonable surges in incense belief—meaning two Yin Son of Heaven have perished. Add the Shen Zong, Guang Zong, and Zhao Dynasty's Yin Son of Heaven already gone, four are already dead."

Xiangxiangzi said: "The remaining Yin Son of Heaven must be alarmed. Look—this imperial tomb is now empty, not even a single incense deity remains."

At this moment, the two of them arrived before another great mountain.

This was the tomb of Emperor Yingzong of the Zhao Dynasty.

Yet now, the entire imperial tomb stood utterly deserted—clearly, word had reached them long ago, and they had fled in advance.

"It seems the remaining Yin Son of Heaven have united. Breaking them apart one by one is no longer possible. Then let us halt our actions entirely and use this time of gathered incense belief to cultivate further."

"The ones truly in a hurry aren't us—it's them," Li Yi said after a moment. "We grow stronger with time; they do not."

Xiangxiangzi said: "That makes sense. We shouldn't strike out now. Better to let them come to us."

The two instantly agreed, deciding to simultaneously lead the Embroidered Uniform Guards in smashing mountains and destroying temples while focusing on their cultivation.

Li Yi had already opened sixty major acupoints within his body, yet his current realm remained at the Third Layer of the Five Qi Stage—there was still vast room for growth. He had planned to delve into deep cultivation after resolving this matter, but now his plans must change.

And as soon as they halted their actions,

Emperor Shenwu, Li Jiye, immediately received word from the Golden Eye Guard.

At that moment, Li Jiye was en route to the location of Emperor Zhenzong. Upon hearing the news, he instantly understood: the initiative was lost. The remaining Yin Son of Heaven must have gathered together, plotting how to respond to him and True Person Taiyi.

"Summon True Person Taiyi back to the capital. Suspend the smashing of mountains and destruction of temples," Li Jiye ordered the Golden Eye Guard to send word immediately.

Now they must unite to face the coming enemy—no more wandering aimlessly.

Otherwise, if they were targeted, the outcome would be dire.

In the capital, dragon-tiger qi enveloped the land, suppressing all incense deities. To confront Yin Son of Heaven, the capital was the best place—there, at least, they would be cut off from all outside aid.

Yet at least six Yin Son of Heaven still remained.

With himself and Li Yi, could they prevail?

Li Jiye did not know. But now, he could only try.

After thinking clearly, he immediately turned his forces back toward the capital.

In truth, Li Jiye's decision was correct.

For at the same time,

In the ancestral homeland of the Zhao Dynasty, three hundred li of fertile land thrived with incense and prosperity, resembling a small capital—this place was called Longcheng, where twelve statues of Son of Heaven stood, each before which incense burned in endless streams.

But just days ago, four of the imperial statues had inexplicably shattered into piles of rubble.

This development signaled that four Yin Son of Heaven had met their end.

Such a momentous event could not be hidden from the eyes of the remaining Yin Son of Heaven. They sensed the danger and, without words, converged upon Longcheng to deliberate their response.

At this moment, within a clan ancestral hall in Longcheng,

six Yin Son of Heaven stood gathered.

Leading them was a man clad in armor, resembling a general—majestic, commanding, brimming with authority. He was none other than Zhao Tianxing, the founding emperor of the Zhao Dynasty, posthumously honored as Taizu Emperor.

Behind him stood, in order: Taizong, Zhenzong, Yingzong, Guangzong, and Lizong.

"Is Zhao Chenggan mad?" said Emperor Yingzong, his voice thundering with fury. "He allies with that so-called True Person Taiyi, smashes mountains and destroys temples—and now he dares strike at our ancestors! Doesn't he know these Yin Son of Heaven are the very foundation of our dynasty's continuity? Destroy us, and heaven and earth will turn upside down, the empire will change hands!"

As he spoke, the surrounding heavens responded—dark clouds gathered instantly, as if a storm were about to break.

"Our Shenwu Emperor isn't mad—he's bold," said Emperor Taizong, a composed middle-aged man. "Don't you see? True Person Taiyi is merely his blade, used to slay the incense deities of the realm. Today he names him Imperial Preceptor; tomorrow, if he's no longer useful, a single edict reduces him to nothing."

"According to what I know, Shenwu Emperor does this because he seeks to gather all incense belief upon himself, to use his imperial status to enter the path of cultivation and achieve immortality, ensuring the dynasty endures forever."

"If an emperor can attain immortality through cultivation, then we ancestors become useless—alive only to consume the world's incense. That's why Shenwu Emperor must exterminate us completely."

"If all Yin Son of Heaven perish, and the smashing of mountains and destruction of temples proceeds smoothly, all incense belief in the realm will converge upon him alone. At that moment, Shenwu Emperor will surpass every ruler in history, becoming a truly supreme being."

At these words, the other Yin Son of Heaven were stunned.

"Is this even possible?" Emperor Guangzong and Emperor Lizong clearly had not imagined their descendant's ambition ran so deep.

To channel the incense of the entire realm to nourish one man—to forge a path never before taken.

Yet Zhao Tianxing, Taizu Emperor, suddenly laughed: "I have countless descendants, yet one truly remarkable one has emerged. A thousand years ago, when I swept the land and ascended the throne, I dared not touch the incense deities—even the remnants of the previous dynasty were spared. I did so for the stability of the empire, but ultimately, I lacked the resolve to smash mountains and destroy temples."

"Now, with the realm at peace, this Shenwu Emperor seeks to remake heaven and earth. Truly unprecedented. If he succeeds, the Zhao Dynasty will endure for ten thousand generations."

"Taizu, this is no time to praise Shenwu Emperor!" said Yingzong earnestly. "He has allied with True Person Taiyi—within days, they will come to Longcheng. When they arrive, our lives may be forfeit."

!

"This realm belongs to the Zhao Dynasty—not to Zhao Chenggan alone! If he dares commit such an act of treason, we must prepare now—kill this Shenwu Emperor, install a new sovereign, and restore all as before."

Kill Shenwu Emperor?

That would be difficult.

The room fell silent.

In terms of incense power, Shenwu Emperor, as reigning monarch, possessed no less—and likely more—than they did. Two Yin Son of Heaven had already been slain by him; his strength was clearly extraordinary.

Add True Person Taiyi, and their chances in battle were slim.

But they had Taizu Emperor.

At this thought, all eyes turned to Taizu Emperor Zhao Tianxing on the main seat.

He was the strongest among them.

If he said Shenwu Emperor could be killed, then tomorrow the emperor would be dead. If he lacked confidence, none among them could hope to prevail.

"Even if we could kill Shenwu Emperor," said Taizu Emperor calmly, "what then? What losses would we suffer? Shenwu Emperor and True Person Taiyi are no ordinary men. If we fight, we will be decimated—how many of us six Yin Son of Heaven will remain?"

"Even if we win, it will be a pyrrhic victory. And if Shenwu Emperor and True Person Taiyi die, who will hold the empire together? Who can bear the weight of the people? A dynastic change will follow, and we will become remnants of a fallen dynasty—still doomed to extinction."

"That's true," murmured the other Yin Son of Heaven, frowning.

Fight: heavy losses, empire falls.

Do nothing: wait to die.

"Taizu Emperor," said Yingzong, "if fighting is impossible and inaction is suicide, must we negotiate with Shenwu Emperor?"

Taizu Emperor said: "Indeed. I propose it. Shenwu Emperor seeks the world's incense. We, as Yin Son of Heaven for generations, have amassed vast incense—useless to us now. If we abandon it, become ordinary incense deities, it may yet be a way out."

"To abandon incense is to cut off both arms," countered Taizong Emperor immediately. "Handing our lives over to another's mercy—I cannot accept this."

"Indeed," added the other Yin Son of Heaven. "Though we are his ancestors, he will not spare us because of blood ties; he will ultimately settle accounts with us."

Zhao Tianxing said calmly: "Whether to fight or negotiate does not rest with me—it depends on the strength of the opponent. If he is too powerful, and we cannot prevail, we must negotiate—even if we do not wish to."

"Go to the capital. Meet this Shenwu Emperor. If he is truly extraordinary, negotiate. If he is merely a hollow shell, kill him and install a new sovereign. What do you say?"

After a moment's thought, the other Yin Son of Heaven nodded in agreement.

Yet from Taizu Emperor's tone, it was clear he did not wish to see the Zhao Dynasty's empire destroyed by internal strife.

And this could be understood.

After all, this realm was his to conquer—he would not willingly destroy it.

(End of Chapter)