Chapter 687: The Oath

The secret chamber returned to tranquility.

Chen Wen stood alone beside the central stone platform, eyes closed, focusing his mind.

His consciousness sank into his body, carefully examining the system's status.

His level had indeed fallen from the brief peak of Lv. 7 back to Lv. 6.

But this decline was completely different from the one years ago.

Years ago, when the system first reached a higher level, due to insufficient personal strength and fortune momentum accumulation, after being forced to activate it almost "collapsed and reset".

Experience was cleared.

The structure was unstable.

It required a long time to re-accumulate and repair.

But this time.

The system's foundation had grown immensely strong together with the Chen Dynasty's fortune momentum.

Although the Lv. 7 authority could not be maintained temporarily due to large-scale consumption, the downgrade process was smooth and orderly.

The core structure was unharmed.

Even having just experienced the operation of high authority status, his understanding and adaptability to the rules were deeper.

The most important thing was—

Chen Wen "looked" at the experience bar.

It was not cleared.

It still retained about forty percent of the accumulation.

This meant that the time needed to reach Lv. 7 again would be greatly shortened.

The cost was the massive amount of fortune momentum consumed extra in this ritual to maintain the high state and resist interference.

But this cost, in Chen Wen's view, was completely bearable.

He opened his eyes.

His gaze was clear, showing no fatigue.

The specks of dust on his dark deep robe were brushed away by him casually.

At this moment, the stone gate opened again.

Zhang Cheng and Zhao Lao Nian hurried in.

Both still showed excitement on their faces, but their gaze had returned to the focus of official duties.

"Your Majesty."

Zhang Cheng spoke first, his tone carrying the rigor of a report.

"The preliminary observations from the Bureau of Peace and Stability and the Imperial Observatory have been compiled."

"The fortune momentum tide has calmly receded, the main flow proceeds unobstructed, feedback from all regional fortune momentum nodes is normal, with no signs of turmoil."

"Although this ritual moved the heavens and consumed enormously, it did not harm the state's foundation."

Zhao Lao Nian added, holding a freshly calculated draft.

"A rough estimate: about thirty-five percent of the treasury's reserve of 'Visible Momentum' has been consumed."

"But the 'Deep Reserves' of the fortune momentum sea have decreased by less than ten percent, and its flow speed has actually increased, as if tempered."

"Although there were panicked discussions among the populace, local governments have followed the plan to appease and guide; public sentiment is gradually stabilizing, with many viewing it as an auspicious omen."

Chen Wen gave a slight nod.

This result was within his expectations.

Given the Chen Dynasty's current scale, supporting such a ritual, while burdensome, is far from damaging the vital forces.

"And the twelve?" he asked.

Zhang Cheng replied: "They have each returned to their mansions, all accompanied by imperial physicians and experts skilled in health-guiding techniques, ensuring a smooth transition."

"Governor Yue, Instructor Lin, and others have deep breath, inner divine light, and adapt extremely quickly."

"Several of the Five Ministers are like fish in water; Minister Qian has already inquired when he can resume acting duties."

Chen Wen's mouth corner curled slightly.

"Tell Qian Gui, it's no problem to wait these three days. Stabilizing oneself is the current priority."

"Yes."

Zhang Cheng assented.

Zhao Lao Nian scratched his head, somewhat hesitant: "Your Majesty, there is one more matter… From the 'light curtain' side, the 'pinhole' observation station reports that although the Yuneng Pollution at the rift has been repelled, some extremely hard-to-remove 'imprints' remain, seemingly slowly eroding the surrounding rules, possibly… causing the rift to slowly expand."

"Moreover, the convergence speed of dark energy in the direction of Northern Establish Prefecture has nearly doubled in the past hour."

Chen Wen's gaze narrowed.

"As expected."

The Iron Crow Army, having failed to guide Zhu Yue, without hesitation redirected its resources toward the "Qing".

Accelerating the catalysis.

"No need to worry excessively."

He spoke slowly.

"The rift's expansion is both pressure and passage. They can come over; we may be able to go over in the future."

"As for the Establish Prefecture Jurchen…"

He paused.

"A mere clown, even with evil power backing him, is ultimately a barbarian. Once his wings grow a bit stronger, a thunderous sweep will not be too late."

"For now, the primary focus remains the Western 'Starfire'."

Zhang Cheng understood: "My lord, per the plan, should we send the second round of signals to Huai Xi while the ripples of the Fortune Momentum tide have not yet dissipated?"

"Send."

Chen Wen spoke decisively.

"The content can be clearer than last time. Point out the connection between 'Yin Energy', 'Jurchen', and 'historical manipulator'. No need to reveal our identities; just give a warning."

"Yes, I will attend to it immediately."

Zhang Cheng received the order.

Zhao Lao Nian also said: "I'll go adjust the resonance station's output; taking advantage of this wave's lingering effect, the signal should be clearer."

The two hurried away.

Chen Wen also stepped out of the secret chamber and returned to the ground.

Outside Chengtian Hall, the sky was on the verge of dawn.

A hint of fish-belly white appeared on the eastern horizon.

The cold, clear air drawn into the lungs carried the particular sharpness of a winter morning.

He stood with his hands behind his back, gazing far to the west.

One could almost imagine that, at this moment, the young man in Huai Xi was both puzzled and alert, yet full of curiosity as he interpreted the anomalies coming from the east and the new signal soon to arrive.

Just then.

A neat, light footstep sound came from behind him.

Chen Wen did not turn back.

He already knew who was coming.

Yue Fei, Lin Chong, Guan Sheng, Hu Yan Zhuo, Yue Yun, Zhang Xian.

Six generals who had just been reborn had left and returned.

They had changed into ordinary clothes, but the bearing of soldiers could not be concealed.

Their faces were young, yet their eyes held the weathered look of a hundred battles and the sharp vigor of their new birth.

The six stopped three paces behind Chen Wen.

Together they knelt on one knee.

They clasped their fists.

Yue Fei raised his head; his voice, steady and powerful, rang out clearly in the stillness before dawn:

"We, your subjects, are grateful for your lord's recreation, and dare not forget."

"Having been reborn, this body shall be a blade and a shield."

"The aspiration of Northward Hope, though hard to change over a hundred generations; the heart to resist enemies, even amid ten thousand deaths, shall not shift."

"Please, my lord, wait and see."

Lin Chong, with a brief manner, said: "I wish to be the vanguard."

Guan Sheng's voice like muffled thunder: "I wish to breach fortified cities."

Hu Yan Zhuo, bold and heroic: "I wish to sweep away the wicked multitude."

Yue Yun and Zhang Xian, in unison, said: "I wish to devote my mortal strength!"

Chen Wen turned around.

His gaze swept over the six determined, youthful faces.

He stepped forward and personally helped Yue Fei to his feet.

He then gestured for the others to rise.

"A blade needs sharpening, a shield needs strengthening."

"The defense of Bei Jing, the instruction at the Lecture Martial Hall, and the organization of the new army all require your wholehearted effort."

"The enemy will not give us much time."

"Go."

"Let me see what brilliance these reborn bodies can burst forth."

"The subordinate generals receive the order!"

The six performed another bow, then turned and strode away with great strides.

Their silhouettes quickly merged into the brightening morning light.

Their steps were firm.

Their backs were like mountains.

Chen Wen watched them depart.

The slight heaviness in his heart, born of the nation's fortune depletion and the Iron Crow Army's acceleration, gradually gave way to a firmer resolve.

The cornerstone is set.

The blade is honed.

Next.

It is time to place the piece.

To race against time.

He looked west again, as if he could pierce through layers of spacetime to see that cluster of 'star fire' stubbornly burning, resisting invisible shackles.

"The seed has been sown."

"Wait quietly for it to sprout."

He muttered to himself, turned, and walked toward the inner hall.

A new day.

It began.

Huai Xi camp.

Zhu Yue indeed did not sleep all night.

On the bark spread before him, various symbols and inferential lines were drawn all over.

The tremendous 'vibration' in the east last night, and the fragments of seemingly clearer 'signal' mixed within it, made his thoughts churn.

He faintly felt he had touched the edge of a huge secret.

About this world.

About those invisible 'hands'.

About……another possible history.

Just as he was pondering,

Xu Da hurried over, surprise on his face.

"Chongba, the east……again a weak light came, feeling somewhat different, flashing a few times, just before dawn."

Zhu Yue jerked his head up.

"What is it like?"

"Can't say……just feels a bit urgent, like it's reminding of something." Xu Da struggled to describe.

Zhu Yue grabbed a charcoal stick.

Beside the words 'Historical Manipulator' on the bark, he drew a heavy circle.

Then, he wrote two new words beside it:

"Yin Energy".

"Jurchen".

He stared at these three words.

His gaze was sharp as a blade.

"We need more information."

"We also need……greater speed."

He looked at Xu Da.

"Starting today, double the patrol range."

"Focus on all abnormal traces, especially……those with a gloomy, filthy feeling."

"Also, find a way to bring people who understand Liao East and understand the Jurchen tribe's situation."

"I am useful."

Xu Da didn't understand why, but seeing Zhu Yue's unprecedented solemn expression, he immediately clasped his fists.

"Yes!"

Zhu Yue sat down again.

Gazing toward the eastern horizon, the dawn light grew ever brighter.

A thought in his mind grew ever clearer:

Passively waiting for answers is not his style.

Since the mountain will not come to him,

then he will go to the mountain.

He needs to be more proactive, to make contact, to verify, to……break that invisible shackle.