Chapter 425: Merit Complete, the Cauldron in Hand!

Dalu Pass, watchtower.

Xie Chunan gazed at the heavens, wind rising, clouds churning.

Amidst the standoff of northern and southern destiny, the Crimson Phoenix and the Divine Dragon clashed.

Their forces were evenly matched, a spectacle of grandeur!

Just one glance!

Xie Chunan felt a stabbing pain in his eyes and dared not look again.

Those who steal heavenly secrets and calculate destiny often cannot escape misfortune.

All things under heaven carry a price!

Yet Xie Chunan had remained safe for years, even in old age, his household harmonious, children both sons and daughters.

He turned to look at his beloved daughter, Xie Lingxuan; as time flowed, her demeanor grew ever more ethereal, like an "immortal" from a painting.

Beside her, his second son, Xie Linghao, had streaks of gray in his temples, while Xie Lingxuan seemed frozen in youth, her beauty unaged.

Like a woman of twenty.

Her fortune and blessings flowed like a "living spring," benefiting her younger siblings, all of whom enjoyed smooth destiny, free from calamity.

And the greatest beneficiary was none other than Xie Chunan himself.

When he left the mountains, his master had foretold his fortune, predicting he would die young—a short-lived man.

Yet since the birth of his eldest daughter, all fate had reversed; he now lived past eighty.

One man attains the Dao, even chickens and dogs ascend to heaven!

Xie Chunan even suspected his own daughter, whom he had delivered, was a celestial immortal banished from heaven.

He shook his head!

Dismissed such absurd notions.

He could no longer discern the course of this war.

Only heaven knew!

Xie Lingxuan, her beautiful eyes shifting, held only deep longing and boundless prayers for Lu Chen.

She firmly believed Lu Chen and the Lu Army would not fall here!

And amidst this chaos!

The one most invested in this struggle, besides Xie Lingxuan, was Empress Dowager Zhou Jinyu of the Daqing Dynasty.

She had once been the crown princess of Beifeng, her bloodline carrying foreign lineage.

Though noble as the nation's mother, her foundation had been personally built by the Prince of Yan.

Over twelve years, she had fiercely cultivated her power; though her household hosted over a thousand guests, how many truly pledged loyalty?

Most likely, they served only for the Prince of Yan behind her!

The Son of Heaven was still young; she stood alone in the capital, isolated, with no family power.

The young emperor beside her, clad in bright yellow imperial robes, was sixteen, tall and imposing, with deep-set features.

His name: Zhou Ji.

Yet his appearance differed slightly from the typical Daqing Han, and many court officials did not hold him in high regard.

His features resembled those of the Hu people, widely whispered among the common folk.

On the day he formally ascended the throne, many ministers retired and requested to return home.

Finally!

At Xie Chunan's suggestion, the emperor honored "Lu Chen" as his adoptive father.

This move instantly improved public opinion.

Numerous great scholars and renowned literati returned to court.

On the night Lu Chen was named adoptive father, Zhou Jinyu tossed and turned in bed until dawn.

If Yan should lose this war, the Qianyuan army would surge like a tide, unstoppable; Daqing would face an unprecedented crisis.

As part of the faction closely tied to Lu Chen,

Zhou Jinyu knew that if they lost, their fate would surely be grim.

They need not wait for Qianyuan to breach the city.

Daqing's noble families would send her and her son off in chains.

Her heart was a tangle of emotions—whether from deep worry for Lu Chen's safety, or dread for her own and her son's future, she could not tell.

Even forcing calm, she could not fully hide the anxiety in her expression.

The young emperor beside Zhou Jinyu sensed his mother's unease and gently supported her, offering silent comfort.

Yet Zhou Ji's heart was not without turmoil.

As a child, he had harbored deep hatred for the Prince of Yan.

Throughout the palace, even the eunuchs, had been forbidden to speak of the truth behind the calamity that had claimed the former emperor.

But paper cannot forever wrap fire; as he grew older, his servants accidentally let slip the truth.

That servant was later beaten to death by his mother for his loose tongue!

Zhou Ji was stunned to learn!

His father had not died of illness—he had been driven to death by Lu Chen and his uncle, Zhou Cheng.

This patricide—how could a son not seek vengeance?

Yet!

Though he harbored fury, he dared not, and would not, question his mother.

For the Prince of Yan, even across ten thousand li, his prestige still struck fear into courtiers and inspired devotion among the people.

If he acted rashly, he would endanger not only himself but also his mother.

Zhou Ji trusted Grand Secretary Xie Chunan above all, who was also his Grand Tutor and the teacher he most revered.

Once, during a lesson, he had cautiously asked Xie Chunan how one might defeat the Prince of Yan.

But Xie Chunan's face turned pale; he rebuked him fiercely.

The next day, Xie Chunan resigned from office; no matter how Zhou Ji pleaded, he refused to see him.

After that incident!

Zhou Ji never again mentioned defeating the Prince of Yan; he had deeply felt the terror of those two characters: "Prince of Yan."

As he matured and ascended the throne, cultivating his own faction, he gradually came to truly understand this Prince of Yan.

He read the prince's books and poems, awed by his legendary life and extraordinary talent.

Truly a man of heaven-spanning, earth-binding greatness!

Zhou Ji's view of the Prince of Yan grew complex—fear, admiration, and an unspeakable hatred all intertwined.

Tragically!

He must still dwell beneath the prince's shadow, as emperor, daring not show even a trace of hatred.

In this war, he wished the Prince of Yan would simply lose.

Once and for all!

……

……

Near Dalu Pass!

On a cliff in a hidden valley, two figures in black robes arrived silently.

They gazed down at the battlefield, flames raging, armies facing off, the clamor of battle deafening.

In the valley, corpses littered the ground, rivers of blood, a sight too horrific to behold.

The two black-robed figures were of average height, nearly identical, like reflections in a mirror.

Their black robes clung tightly, long hair falling over their shoulders, yet their gender remained indiscernible.

Their faces bore bronze masks, radiating an ancient aura.

Beneath the masks lay an inexplicable stiffness and coldness, as if all things under heaven meant nothing to them.

More astonishing still!

In attire, physique, and even the slightest gesture, they were perfectly matched, like twin brothers.

Each held a pen and a book in hand.

Opening the book, several striking titles were clearly listed:

The Awakening of Insects List, the Rouge List, the Divine Weapon List, and more.

These lists were objects of obsession in the martial world, driving countless souls to frenzy.

These two were none other than the two mysterious founders of Baoyue Tower—figures whose presence was whispered about but never seen.

At this moment,

Their books and pens vanished.

Together, they

Drew forth a thick, ancient bronze tome from the depths of empty space.

The ancient book pulsed with boundless power; the moment it appeared, it emitted a faint, ethereal glow.

The book unfolded on its own, its pages flowing with delicate, wispy qi,

Characters flickering in and out, like misty clouds drifting through a fairy realm.

The pages turned slowly, finally settling on two facing pages.

On the left page, the text was blurred and illegible.

But on the right page, a faint line of flowing characters appeared, like fish darting through water, shimmering with mysterious radiance:

"The Clan Sui Ming, the Mirror, cultivation complete, may ride the dragon and ascend!"

New characters spontaneously formed on the ancient text:

"The Sacred Ruins Realm, the Spirit Spring, trial complete, may summon ascension!"

"In this year of the calendar, the Great Emperor Era's 18, 20th year, the Spiritual Tide has restarted after three thousand years."

"Within this place, three shall ascend!"

These characters seemed to contain the infinite mysteries of heaven and earth, inspiring profound reverence.

Both looked up at the heavens together and solemnly intoned:

"We have witnessed!"

As they whispered, the bronze ancient text slowly closed, then vanished without a trace.

The heavens and earth seemed to respond!

……

……

【You begin to manifest your External Scene, skillfully fusing the Primordial Qi Art, the Refining Heaven Palm, and the Way of Destiny.】

【Inner and outer realms now merge seamlessly!】

【Huang Dao suddenly frowned, as an unprecedented aura quietly surged forth.】

【Yet he soon relaxed, for his External Scene too was forged from dozens of peerless demonic arts in the Demon Scripture, built upon the Foundation of the Dao Heart Seed Demon Art.】

【He was certain this External Scene surpassed every demonic patriarch in history.】

【The black hole vortex behind Huang Dao spun faster, drawing in surrounding spiritual energy involuntarily.】

【An External Scene reflects one's cultivation base and personal insights, inextricably tied to one's martial foundation and life experiences.】

【You looked at Huang Dao and smiled.】

【Then, in your hand, crimson flame gathered, gradually solidifying into a small square cauldron, slowly taking shape.】

【Though Huang Dao did not recognize the object, its mere appearance made his scalp tingle and his heart tremble.】

(End of Chapter)