Chapter 160: Respectfully invite the three sages into my bureau; from now on, even gods and demons will be mere dogs!

Liu Bei's voice, like a great bronze bell, resonated endlessly in Su Ming's mind.

Another round!

What a heavy entrust!

What a magnificent expectation!

Su Ming inhaled deeply, his gaze sweeping once more over the dim Civil and Military Hall, and he paced slowly.

These figures were either resolute, scholarly, defiant, or steady…

The common point was that they had all once been the backbone of an era!

Too hard to choose!

Within the Eye of Truth, a golden star disc spun wildly, piercing the terrifying power contained in each statue.

Phoenix Chick Pang Tong, Minister of the Secretariat Fa Zheng, Chariot Cavalry General Zhang Fei, Light Cavalry General Ma Chao, Rear General Huang Zhong, Grand General Jiang Wan, Grand Marshal Fei Yi, Peaceful Han General Mi Zhu…

The Western Liang Battle Soul of Light Cavalry General Ma Chao can summon the might of iron cavalry; when charging into battle, it can make the enemy's guts shatter, trembling before the fight even begins!

Rear General Huang Zhong's Divine Archer of Dingjun can lock onto an enemy chieftain a thousand li away; one arrow, flawless, leaves no regret, making it the most terrifying killing weapon on the battlefield!

And Liao Hua's Han End Fire, a living chronicle that witnessed the rise and fall of Shu Han, is itself a form of resilience, allowing followers to fight to the death in desperate situations, growing braver with each battle.

Su Ming's mouth was dry, his tongue parched, and his blood boiled throughout his body.

He wanted the gallop of the Western Liang Iron Cavalry, and the lethal arrow from the summit of Dingjun Mountain!

Choose?

Only children make choices!

He wants them all!

But he also knows!

Cannot!

Select three!

It can only be three!

The Eye of Truth can see the auras on these altars growing ever weaker!

When midnight arrives, they will all vanish!

Miss it, and there will be no chance again!

"Ah!"

Su Ming sighed, forcing himself to calm down.

Who should be chosen?

Choose generals?

Ma Chao, Huang Zhong, Wei Yan!

Three of the most elite killing weapons!

The charge of the Western Liang Iron Cavalry, the sniper kill of Hundred Steps Piercing Poplar, and the risky maneuvers of Ziwu Gu's Ingenious Stratagem!

This combination can boost his combat power beyond its current foundation!

It can bring his Mao style to its fullest expression!

But…

Su Ming's gaze flickered to his own palm.

There, it seemed the cold of the Calamity Core and the weight of the Han Soul Unquiet Flag still lingered.

Decay is Calamity…

Nine Conquests of the World can summon the Unmatched Flying Army…

Divine Demon Talisman…

Xiao Heizi…

What he lacks now is not pure force, not a thug.

He needs a mind!

A mind that can twist all power into a single rope, unleashing value beyond the limit!

Only then could it become the foundation supporting his future ambitions!

But those martial ministers…

Are truly ones he cannot give up!

Take, for example, Wei Yan's Defiant!

That kind of disbelief in the Mandate of Heaven, daring to slash at every Rule…

It is practically tailor‑made for him!

Entangled!

An unprecedented entanglement!

He wants every ounce of power!

He does not wish to disappoint any heroic spirit!

"Uncle Liu…"

Su Ming spoke softly.

"Today, I invite three seniors!"

"When I crush the soaring heavens, overturn life and death, and return, I respectfully invite you all to accompany me… to battle for many more eras!"

The air fell silent.

Then, it returned to normal.

Su Ming took a deep breath, stopped hesitating, strode forward like a comet, and walked straight up to the line of civil officials.

He smoothed his garments, his expression solemn, and bowed deeply before the first statue with utmost reverence!

The statue was slender, its eyes sharp as an eagle's, and it was the Fengchu—

Pang Tong!

"Sir Shiyuan, the Sleeping Dragon Fengchu, securing one could bring peace to the world!"

"You, at Red Cliffs, offered the linked formation, laying the foundation for the three‑kingdoms!"

"At Leiyang, hearing the stringed songs, you discerned elegance, incomparable to the mundane!"

"Later you even overruled all opposition, helping the Lord seize Xichuan, ultimately achieving imperial destiny!"

"I, junior Su Ming, today intend to undertake a deed against Heaven; the road ahead is shrouded in dense fog, gods and demons are treacherous, beyond mortal strength to oppose!"

"I earnestly request you, sir, to emerge from seclusion, using your peerless wisdom to clear the fog for me, to perceive the Karma, and turn all the heavens' gods and demons into pieces on my board!"

As the words fell, Pang Tong's stone statue trembled with a roar, and golden light suddenly flared around it!

Its sharp eyes seemed to come alive, bursting forth with light that pierced eternity!

Buzz—!

A scroll of an ancient, simple battle formation flickered out of the statue, turning into a strand of cyan light that hovered beside Su Ming, still as a deep abyss.

Done!

Su Ming felt certain in his heart, even sensing that the cyan formation was conveying thoughts of approval and scrutiny to him.

He did not pause, turned and walked toward the second statue.

His demeanor, however, changed.

No longer a simple junior seeking counsel, but bearing a hint of dignified camaraderie.

Minister of the Secretariat·Fa Zheng!

"Sir Xiaozhi, you offered a plan to capture Hanzhong, a brilliant scheme that cut down Xiahou, laying the cornerstone for the Lord's hegemonic enterprise!"

"The world may label you as one who repays grudges, but the junior deeply knows that mercy toward the foe is self‑inflicted cruelty!"

"When the Lord campaigns against Wu, he sighs that if Xiaozhi were still alive, he could block our eastward march and prevent a great defeat!"

"The junior's method of oversight also makes grievances distinct!"

"Ahead on the road, jackals and wolves lie in wait, countless petty villains!"

"The junior earnestly begs you, sir, to emerge, using your ingenious stratagem to forge for me the sharpest blade of vengeance!"

"Let all enemies be reduced to ash within the calculations, their souls erased!"

Boom—!

Above Fa Zheng's stone statue, golden light still flared!

A surge of cold, ruthless, yet supremely wise black light surged skyward!

The flowing light finally formed a grim spear‑arrow engraved with the characters 'Law', exuding a fierce aura, hanging silently on the other side of Su Ming.

Formed!

Finally!

Su Ming's gaze fell upon the statue with a kindly face and steady demeanor, as if it could shoulder mountains and rivers.

Grand General·Jiang Wan!

He took a deep breath.

This time, his tone was filled with solemn entrustment, a grand offering a ruler gives to a trusted minister!

"Sir Gong Yan, you received the Chancellor's dying entrustment, inheriting his will to pacify the nation, allowing the Shu Han dynasty's reign to continue!"

"You are not a war talent, yet you are the pillar that lifts the nation, the last towering white‑jade column of the Han court, supporting the sea‑blue golden beam!"

"Though the junior engages in killing, his ambition is to establish order, not a fleeting thrill!"

"If one day you expand the borders for ten thousand li, governing billions, chaos will arise! The junior lacks the ability!"

"The junior earnestly begs you, sir, to emerge, using your great talent of 'Stabilizing the Nation' to secure the rear, solidify the foundation, so I may have no worries behind me and can campaign against the heavens!"

Boom!!!

As if responding to Su Ming's millennial entrustment, Jiang Wan's stone statue also flared with golden light!

Then, a heavy earth‑colored aureole burst forth!

The aura bore no hint of killing, yet contained a magnificent force of stability, solidity, and endless vitality!

The aura finally coalesced into a massive jade seal symbolizing the nation's foundation, slowly hovering behind Su Ming.

At this moment!

The cyan battle formation, suspended on the left, penetrates Karma, wielding calculation!

The black spear‑arrow, suspended on the right, grim and fierce, commands slaughter!

The yellow jade seal, suspended behind, as massive as a mountain, stabilizes the dynasty!

The three lights circled Su Ming, resonating with each other.

The prototype of the future divine dynasty has already been completed.

Su Ming stood at the center, slowly closed his eyes, his body trembling with excitement.

"I respectfully invite the three sages into my scheme..."

"From now on, gods and demons alike shall be mere dogs!"