Chapter 162: Ruling All Under Heaven: The Master Strategists Clash, Chen

Li Guanyi tore his gaze away from the bronze stele in the corner, chasing the Black Tortoise Manifestation to the very rear, where ancient furnishings surrounded an open space holding a scroll painting.

One zhang long, several chi tall, its brushstrokes sharp and piercing, containing within a single scroll the essence of a thousand mountains and ten thousand waters.

The Black Tortoise Manifestation lay motionless before the scroll.

It wanted to enter but seemed unable to break through some invisible barrier, growing frantic, pacing back and forth, until finally landing on Li Guanyi's shoulder, its eyes filled with urgency—one claw tugging at the boy's shoulder, the other extended, pointing at the landscape painting.

It nearly cried out.

This scroll?

"This thing can't possibly be carried away."

Li Guanyi stared at the landscape scroll; from the inscription on one side, he recognized it as the work of Chen's ancestral lord, five hundred years ago—the Chen Duke. At a glance, this divine general, once peerless in martial prowess, had only passable brushwork; had the Black Tortoise not clung to it so tightly, Li Guanyi would have paid it no mind.

But he fully trusted the Black Tortoise's cunning eyesight.

This creature had outright ignored divine weapon materials, yet recognized the preciousness of this landscape scroll. Li Guanyi fixed his gaze upon it, and gradually his spirit sank into it, feeling that every stroke, every line within the mountains and waters, seemed to contain the ebb and flow of martial energy.

Li Guanyi's expression hardened slightly; in a daze, he seemed to see a martial artist performing a technique.

Each move was fierce and dominant, internal qi rising and falling like mountains.

Finally, he saw a martial artist charging forward with a spear, thrusting it ahead—suddenly, layer upon layer, endless peaks surged toward him. Li Guanyi's pupils contracted; he recognized the core of this technique.

【Crush Mountains】!

A thousand mountains, ten thousand waters, ever-shifting—this was the perfected, complete state of 【Crush Mountains】.

But at its ultimate extreme, 【Crush Mountains】 did not stop.

Endless, layered peaks piled upon one another in an instant, coalescing into a mountain of infinite height, infinite distance, vast and boundless—and the mountain became a spear tip, domineering and piercing, crashing down upon Li Guanyi!

Building momentum with 【Crush Mountains】, unleashing the fury of collapsing mountains and splitting earth!

This second technique was far more majestic and powerful than 【Crush Mountains】.

Just as Li Guanyi was immersed in the divine essence hidden within this seemingly ordinary scroll painting hanging here, inside the Chen imperial palace, the Grand Eunuch knelt with his forehead pressed to the ground, sweat pouring down, face ashen.

The atmosphere was solemn and icy, nearly suffocating him.

Whether from the traces of Chen Yuyun's death or the vision revealed by the Daoist Yuan Guang Technique, there was no doubt: Situ Deqing was the killer of Chen Yuyun.

His purpose was to remove obstacles for the Crown Prince, to advance the power and influence of the civil official system under Dan Tai Xianming—all evidence was in hand, clearer than clear.

But now, Situ Deqing had been found.

And this world's tenth-ranked assassin had become a corpse, nearly severed into three pieces.

Cut at the waist, neck nearly severed, his corpse stared wide-eyed with unbearable resentment; upon his remains lurked the Bai Hu's lethal aura, radiating the spirit of a military divine general—impossible for any general of this era to possess.

If Dan Tai Xianming had ordered the assassin to kill Chen Yuyun, then why this twist?

Could Yuwen Lie have manipulated Situ Deqing?

Made this world's tenth-ranked assassin kill Chen Yuyun, frame Dan Tai Xianming, then eliminate him? Or had the Chancellor acted, ordered Situ Deqing to frame Yuwen Lie, only to be killed in return?

Both theories were possible—Yuwen Lie and Dan Tai Xianming both had motive and interest. The Grand Eunuch's mind spun wildly, as if his skull were about to burn.

He couldn't understand. He truly couldn't understand.

The Chen Huang remained silent for a long while, then spoke: "Summon Dan Tai Xianming."

The Grand Eunuch's heart tightened, sensing the oppressive pressure of a storm about to break. He swallowed hard, whispered "Yes," and nearly ran out of the hall, feeling that though summer was scorching, the palace's chill threatened to freeze him to death!

He dared not delay a moment, swiftly found Dan Tai Xianming, and brought him.

Dan Tai Xianming had already been uncertain; when the imperial edict arrived suddenly today, he rushed to the palace, and upon seeing Situ Deqing's corpse, even this world-renowned chancellor and scholar felt his scalp go numb.

The Chen Huang sat upon his throne, speaking calmly: "Chancellor, do you have nothing to say?"

Dan Tai Xianming remained silent for a long while, then slowly bowed: "Your servant is guilty."

The Chen Huang lifted his gaze: "Oh? What crime?"

Dan Tai Xianming pointed at the corpse and said frankly: "I did not know that the scholar I once recommended, Si Qing, assigned to guard the Imperial Library, was an assassin. Now he lies dead here. I, Your Majesty, recommended an unsuitable talent—I bear great guilt."

The Chen Huang burst into loud laughter: "Avoiding the core issue, feigning weakness."

"Hahahaha! Dan Tai Xianming, Dan Tai Xianming—you who have served generations of monarchs—you are truly a cunning old fox. But do you not know what he did? Or are you still lying now?"

The Chen Huang's laughter faded; he fixed his gaze on Dan Tai Xianming and said:

"He killed Chen Yuyun."

Dan Tai Xianming's mind raced.

The Chen Huang said: "Do you know who Chen Yuyun was?"

Dan Tai Xianming fell silent, then said: "I know."

"He is your illegitimate son."

The Grand Eunuch froze. He had expected the Chancellor to deny, to pretend ignorance—but never imagined Dan Tai Xianming would openly reveal this lethal truth. Instantly, he sensed a deadly atmosphere.

He gripped his fly-whisk tightly, bowing his head as if wishing to vanish into the ground.

Dan Tai Xianming looked at the enraged emperor and said: "From the standpoint of interest, my grandson—Your Majesty's son—is the Crown Prince, the heir apparent, future emperor. As his grandfather, I, to secure his ascension, killed your illegitimate son—it is perfectly reasonable!"

"But such an obvious truth—anyone can see: your illegitimate son dies, I gain the most. Would you believe Dan Tai Xianming would use such a crude scheme?"

Dan Tai Xianming stepped forward half a pace; the seemingly refined old man spoke slowly:

"Even if I were to kill him—"

"I would never use such a scheme."

"If Your Majesty believes Dan Tai Xianming would do such a thing, you underestimate me."

The Chen Huang said: "Yes, Dan Tai Xianming would not do such a thing—but what if even this impression you give is part of your scheme? Deliberately making others believe you would never use such a crude plan, yet doing it anyway—wouldn't that free you even more completely?"

"Wouldn't that be even more foolproof?"

Dan Tai Xianming said: "Your Majesty, I have another crime yet unmentioned."

"Xue Dao Yong also knew Chen Yuyun's identity as your illegitimate son."

The Chen Huang laughed bitterly, his fury twisting into mockery:

"Good, good, good—so you suspect Xue Daoyong?"

TanTai Xianming spoke slowly and calmly: "On the surface, the Crown Prince is the one with the most conflicting interests with the illegitimate son. But you and I both know it's not like that—the Crown Prince would never be Chen Yuyun's true enemy…"

The refined old man slowly raised his eyes, gazing at the emperor, who had frozen in shock and then erupted into even greater rage, and said slowly, word by word: "After all, the strategist who devised the plan did not know."

"Only Chen Yuyun and the son of Consort Xue are your bloodline."

"The Crown Prince is not."

Emperor Chen rose in a fury, losing the calmness a conspirator must possess.

He lost the detachment and composure needed to control the situation, for no matter the reason, what TanTai Xianming revealed was a humiliation no man could ever tolerate. Emperor Chen drew his sword and roared: "Shut up!"

TanTai Xianming, who had always fawned over the emperor in the past, merely replied calmly:

"Shut up?"

"You put my daughter on the bed and fed her a sedative; then you drowned the Prince of Puyang in strong liquor and the poison from the Number One Tower; then, under the guise of offering a toast, you spilled the wine on him, made him change into your clothes, and sent him into my daughter's chambers…"

"You knew Prince of Puyang's bold nature, and you knew he had no heir."

"You knew even he would regret what he did—so he gave you the imperial seal."

"That's how you obtained the seal, and with it, the capital to ally with numerous noble families and civil and military officials. So the Crown Prince is not your son at all—I knew it, and I've always known you would never let him ascend the throne."

"So the one who truly stands in absolute opposition to Chen Yuyun—"

"Is Xue Daoyong!"

"I ordered you to shut up!"

Emperor Chen flew into a rage, drawing his sword in fury. The immense power of the Son of Heaven's Divine Art roared forth, crushing the air in the palace, making it tremble and nearly collapse. At this moment, TanTai Xianming revealed the secret—something no man, not even the emperor, could ever tolerate.

The Grand Eunuch knelt on the ground, his mind reeling with dizziness.

He felt his life was surely at an end.

Emperor Chen's sword pressed against the old man's throat, nearly piercing TanTai Xianming:

"TanTai Xianming!"

"You dare insult me! You actually insult me!"

TanTai Xianming spoke calmly:

"These are your deeds. I merely spoke them aloud."

"So afterward, you took your brother's wife, bore Chen Yuyun, to make up for the grief and resentment of giving away your wife—to prove you were still a man of valor."

"That's all in the past."

"I speak of these things only to help His Majesty dispel the fog before him."

"And to tell you—I will not kill Chen Yuyun to help my grandson."

"Your Majesty is still vigorous, in the prime of your years. Even if Chen Yuyun dies, you have other sons. Even if you don't place Consort Xue's son on the throne, others will rise. My poor grandson has never had a chance."

"If it's the throne you seek, only Xue Daoyong fits."

"Only he has a direct, real conflict of interest with Chen Yuyun. And Xue Daoyong, too, knows Chen Yuyun is your son—he is even one of the top warriors in the realm. Now that you've heard this, Your Majesty…"

TanTai Xianming swept his sleeve, his expression serene as he gazed at the furious monarch, and said softly:

"Do you think I am more likely to act—or is he?"

Emperor Chen closed his eyes and sheathed his sword.

He did not slash at the man before him; instead, he fell silent and replied: "Everything comes at a cost. My Empress and I grew up together, childhood sweethearts. That day, I suffered too—I wanted to rush to the chamber and take back my wife, more than once. But…"

There was sorrow in Emperor Chen's eyes—this emotion was real.

TanTai Xianming sighed, calmly: "I understand."

"The throne of the Son of Heaven, a woman—even one you've known since childhood—is not worth comparing to, is it?"

"Now that we've reached this point, the one who did this must be either Yuwen Lie or Xue Daoyong."

"Yuwen Lie's tactics are straightforward, brutal, and dominant—but he also employs cunning tricks. I suspect it is Xue Daoyong… behind him, there must be a strategist. I merely assume such a strategist exists here."

"This strategist anticipated the personalities of you, me, and Yuwen Lie."

"And set up this scheme."

"Situ Deqing, me, Your Majesty, Yuwen Lie—even Xue Daoyong may all be mere pawns in this game. Such a strategist… terrifying in his mastery of intrigue…" TanTai Xianming closed his eyes, reviewing everything in his mind, as if seeing a vast chessboard before him, dueling with an unknown wise man.

Then TanTai Xianming nearly laid out all of Pojun's strategy and plans.

Every layer of deduction was crystal clear.

But at that moment, Emperor Chen sheathed his sword and said: "Chancellor, your words make sense—but what if this is merely your attempt to mislead my judgment?"

Cold, suspicious light gleamed in the emperor's eyes.

TanTai Xianming froze, staring at the emperor—the shrewd, cunning monarch.

Such a ruler believes only in himself.

Emperor Chen caressed his sword and said: "Chancellor, your reasoning is sound—but why did Situ Deqing kill my son? When did Xue Daoyong kill Situ Deqing? And why did your tenth-ranked assassin suddenly betray you?"

"How do you explain these three points?"

TanTai Xianming replied: "What if Situ Deqing was killed first, and someone took his dark-gold mask and used it to kill Chen Yuyun?"

Emperor Chen snapped: "Then why was Situ Deqing killed? Why did Si Qing leave the palace?"

"And if he was killed first, why does my son's body contain his unique true qi?!"

TanTai Xianming fell silent and replied: "These are merely doubts—but doubts alone cannot overturn a conclusion." Emperor Chen burst into laughter: "Doubts? I too see doubts in you!"

"Moreover!"

"Do you truly not wish your grandson to become emperor?"

TanTai Xianming slowly raised his gaze.

In the palace, the emperor, clad in solemn court robes, stood before the throne, coldly looking down upon TanTai Xianming. Just those words alone were enough to shatter every explanation and strategy TanTai Xianming had just laid out—for the monarch before him would sacrifice anything for the imperial throne.

He did not believe anyone could be indifferent to this position.

Impossible!

Emperor Chen believed that DanTai Xianming had eliminated Chen Yuyun first to seize the throne, then used his own hands to remove Xue Daoyong and the son of Consort Xue, leaving only the Crown Prince—thus, in the Emperor's eyes, every word DanTai Xianming spoke was merely a scheme.

DanTai Xianming suddenly felt exhausted.

Emperor Chen spoke calmly:

"What the Chancellor has said, I shall ponder further. Keep the Chancellor's seal."

"Chancellor, you have worked hard—return home and rest well."

DanTai Xianming fell silent. The elegant old man suddenly understood: no matter what he said, the Emperor would not believe him. Chen Yuyun was dead, and the Emperor intended to use Chen Yuyun's death to formally strip away the Chancellor's power and centralize authority in himself.

DanTai Xianming touched the Chancellor's seal at his waist.

Then he set it down, bowed, and turned to leave the palace.

When he wore the Chancellor's seal, he always smiled gently—but now, as he set it down and stepped out, his back straightened bit by bit, his sleeves wrapped in cool wind, he gazed at the palace and the realm, replaying the strategists behind the Xue family, and murmured to himself:

A fine scheme—indeed, an excellent one.

But only that. Had I been able to trust my lord as utterly as you, such a scheme—I could have shattered it with three or four words!

Or was the Emperor's very nature part of your strategy?

Sixty years ago, when DanTai Xianming stood at his peak, dominating the world as one of the top ten strategists and great Confucians, founding states and establishing doctrines, with a wise monarch beside him, they pushed Chen's borders farther than ever—back then, with such a ruler's support, DanTai Xianming might well have dismantled this scheme outright.

But now…

DanTai Xianming closed his eyes and said nothing, only thinking: the news of the illegitimate son came from Hou Zhongyu.

Li Guanyi was also the guardian of the Fire Qilin Palace, so Li Guanyi knew too.

Surveying the whole picture.

This scheme likely originated from Li Guanyi.

Was it him—or someone behind him?

DanTai Xianming's white hair stirred slightly as he smiled faintly, sorrowful.

The Grand Sacrifice is coming—this game of strategy is not yet finished, Your Majesty.

Thank you for letting me leave the board.

Wait until the end—let us see who wins.

………………

At this moment, Li Guanyi finally penetrated the secret of the landscape scroll: within it lay a technique that followed the Mountain-Crushing move—named 【Break the Peak】, its momentum grand and tyrannical. Upon awakening to both 【Mountain-Crushing】 and 【Break the Peak】, the transformation of his qi became instantly clear.

The landscape painting changed before Li Guanyi's eyes.

The Black Tortoise plunged straight into the landscape painting, and suddenly, the painting twisted, shifted rapidly, slowly transforming into a map, with characters floating into view before Li Guanyi.

"To those who come after: if you are a descendant of the Chen clan and understand military tactics, you may behold my map."

"I possess a secret transmission capable of breaking the Ji clan."

"Whoever inherits it may split the land, divide territories, and establish a new dynasty!"

?? Recommend a book to your friend—cultivation fiction~