Chapter 433: Hong Xuanji: I Accuse the Great Zhou Founder!

It is said that the founder of the Creation Dao once had a vision: to forge a divine vessel that could endure even after the destruction of the great world, using it to reach the other shore.

Yun Xiangxiang spoke of this matter: “When I first got close to Yang Pan, it was to find out where this artifact was. After repeated inquiries, I finally learned that this treasure was seized by Gu Qing when he usurped the Great Qian Dynasty; no matter how hard Yang Pan tried afterward, he could never get his hands on the Craft of Creation.”

Upon hearing this, the Great Zhou Founder’s gaze flickered slightly.

“The Tang Dynasty’s foundations are so profound…”

“The Tang Dynasty’s foundations are not truly profound. Though Gu Qing seized all ninety-nine provinces and personally crushed every major clan within them, first, the Tang’s true high-end combat strength consists of only Gu Qing himself. When he demonstrated his invincibility, every major force across the ninety-nine provinces submitted at once—though they bled heavily, their roots remain intact…”

Yun Xiangxiang laid out various analyses for the Great Zhou Founder.

“Correct.”

The Great Zhou Founder’s eyes shifted, saying: “Gu Qing has two critical weaknesses: his wife Meng Bingyun, and the current Crown Prince, Gu Yi.”

Having clearly mapped out Gu Qing’s strengths and flaws, the Great Zhou Founder’s mind grew clear. He looked at Yun Xiangxiang and asked: “You want me to ally with Yang Pan?”

“Though the Great Qian Dynasty was destroyed thirty years ago, Yang Pan’s base still endures—his Celestial Dragon Guard and Shadow Guard are both elite…”

Yun Xiangxiang listed one by one Yang Pan’s hidden forces, causing the Great Zhou Founder’s eyes to gleam. He nodded, then dissolved into a wisp of black smoke and vanished.

Yun Xiangxiang remained where she stood, her gaze flickering several times, before finally extending a hand, subtly stirring the myriad prohibitions within Chang’an City.

This was an act of surrender to Gu Qing.

Gu Qing exchanged a surprised glance with Meng Bingyun, then appeared before Yun Xiangxiang.

Hong Mansion.

In recent times, Hong Yi, through the breathing techniques recorded in the Martial Scripture, without relying on medicinal herbs or meat to nourish his body, had made considerable progress in martial cultivation—he had reached the “Sinew Strengthening” realm. His skill had taken root; every movement, every breath now followed method, allowing him to accumulate cultivation subtly and unconsciously.

Under these circumstances, Hong Yi flipped through the Martial Scripture, seeking to find some combat forms within it.

[The Wheel of Heaven and Death].

In the Martial Scripture, he found this supreme art—and his heart trembled. This martial technique was created by Hong Xuanji, taught exclusively to his eldest son Hong Xi, with its essence personally drilled into him. Though Hong Yi burned with desire, he had never even been granted the right to look upon it.

Yet here, in the Martial Scripture, he saw its recorded secrets.

“Of course…”

Hong Yi recalled the rumors: his father, Hong Xuanji, after surrendering, had pledged absolute loyalty to Emperor Gu Qing. The secret manual of the Wheel of Heaven and Death must have been first offered to Gu Qing, to prove he held no hidden secrets and posed no threat. And yet, this scroll had ended up in his hands… Hong Yi thought of the young man from that day, wondering how he could have given him such a manual.

After pondering endlessly without resolution, Hong Yi opened the secret manual of the Wheel of Heaven and Death.