Chapter 310

The aura of the Ancient Taigu Chilong had become linked to the Nine Cauldrons?

Li Guanyi's mind momentarily froze; it took several breaths before he reacted, and after a moment's thought, he roughly guessed the truth.

But this truth made Li Guanyi's expression hard to maintain—

Could it be that, earlier, the Ancient Taigu Chilong had forced itself to endure, using its eight-thousand-year foundation to awaken the Nine Cauldrons' spirit, allowing them to revive—not only consuming eight hundred years of its lifespan, but also forming a bond with the Nine Cauldrons?

The Ancient Taigu Chilong's aura was vast and majestic, its golden vertical pupils fixed on Li Guanyi.

Li Guanyi fell silent for a moment, then said sincerely: "I warned you."

The Ancient Taigu Chilong's aura paused.

That interrogative tone and atmosphere vanished instantly.

A flock of crows flew across the sky.

The Fire Qilin reached out a claw, snatched one, and leisurely roasted its wings to eat.

The crows cawed and scattered, while the sizzling aroma of roasting meat made the mood impossible to sustain; the Ancient Taigu Chilong could only glance at the Fire Qilin and sigh: "This little thing always eats, eats, eats."

"As if it hadn't eaten in hundreds of years."

Its aura gradually calmed, carrying only a hint of self-mockery.

Eight hundred years ago, it laughed at the Fire Qilin.

Eight hundred years later, it had become just like it.

The Fire Qilin did so out of gluttony; I did so out of arrogance and showmanship.

In truth, there was no difference.

Li Guanyi sensed the divine resonance of the Nine Cauldrons and realized the Ancient Taigu Chilong's bond was not with his own Nine Cauldrons of the Nine Provinces, but with the newly cast Nine Cauldrons of Jiangnan. Sitting atop the Fire Qilin, he carefully sensed the connection, then froze slightly.

As he drew closer to the Ancient Taigu Chilong, Li Guanyi faintly sensed a change: he could, by drawing upon the accumulated fortune of the Nine Cauldrons, perform something inconceivable—not for combat, not for cultivation, but for the common people and all living things.

Li Guanyi suppressed the instinct to activate the Nine Cauldrons and asked the Ancient Taigu Chilong:

"But the Nine Cauldrons shouldn't have any coercive power over you, right?"

The Ancient Taigu Chilong slowly nodded.

The power of the Nine Cauldrons is calm and generous—it is not the tyrannical path of forcing all living beings into submission.

This is also why the Ancient Taigu Chilong remained relatively composed at this moment.

Otherwise, given his nature, he would have already erupted in fury.

Five hundred years ago, even Lord Chen of Chen State was driven away by the Ancient Taigu Chilong's might.

The Master Jiankuang's blade could not break its horns, and it had reclaimed its indestructible dragon essence, restored to its peak.

Now brimming with vitality, the Master Jiankuang possessed only a single sword's aura—enough to kill him outright, then plunge all of Jiangnan into utter chaos. The dragon's pride would never allow it to be subdued or forced, even if it perished fighting an entire army in the process.

Only because he was certain the divine weapon of the Nine Cauldrons held no coercive power over him did he come here to discuss this matter with Li Guanyi.

Now, the Ancient Taigu Chilong felt as if something had been added to it—no harm, no constraints, no ill effects—but for a dragon who had lived eight thousand years, it was still profoundly unsettling.

Li Guanyi and the Ancient Taigu Chilong pondered together and confirmed that this bond existed because the Ancient Taigu Chilong had awakened one-ninth of the Nine Cauldrons' divine resonance.

And since Li Guanyi had forged the Nine Cauldrons by imprinting one-ninth of the Nine Provinces Cauldron's divine resonance into them, existing in the mortal world, his connection to the Ancient Taigu Chilong had grown even tighter; Li Guanyi said: "There is no change, no coercion."

"You may rest assured."

The Ancient Taigu Chilong reluctantly accepted that, in its eight-thousand-year existence, it had acquired this trivial, insignificant bond; its golden vertical pupils, each nearly half Li Guanyi's size, fixed on the tiny figures of Li Guanyi and the Fire Qilin, and said:

"Enough, enough—I suppose I've been outmaneuvered this time."

"But if you are to forge the Nine Cauldrons to stabilize the Four Directions, the first cauldron requires my strength—then how will you forge the second?"

Li Guanyi was struck right at the core; he let out a helpless laugh:

"I don't know."

To forge the Nine Cauldrons, one needs the fortune of the people and land, territory under Li Guanyi's rule, sources of metal and ore, and most importantly, the awakening of the true Nine Provinces Cauldron's divine resonance.

Seeing Li Guanyi fall silent, the Ancient Taigu Chilong felt it had regained some ground, its mood slightly lifted; it stretched its body and declared proudly: "I'm not dousing your hopes, but you'll never find another force like mine—only my vast dragon essence can awaken this thing."

"Where in the Western Regions will you find power like mine to awaken the Nine Provinces Cauldrons?"

"Where else will you find the overwhelming popular support of eighteen provinces like Jiangnan?"

"Do you know this popular support came from decades of war and strife, and that only after you did so much over the past two years—finally leading the people across the river—was it barely achieved? Even then, you had to pacify the aristocratic clans and hold military parades and ceremonies."

"Going to the Western Regions will be extremely difficult."

The Ancient Taigu Chilong's words were broad and tranquil, like an elder guiding a junior.

Li Guanyi bowed and said: "Thank you for your guidance, Elder."

He gave a bitter smile: "As for popular support, there's perhaps a sliver of possibility—but everything else is truly impossible."

Li Guanyi stroked the Fire Qilin's scales.

The Fire Qilin offered him one roasted wing.

Li Guanyi politely declined; the Fire Qilin looked disappointed, then reached beneath its mane into a hanging pouch, pulled out a bottle of chili powder, and elegantly sprinkled it over the roasted wing in midair.

As it said: "The gentleman does not tire of refined food, nor of finely sliced meat."

Elegant. Ineffably noble.

Then it swallowed the entire wing—skin, bones, and all.

Li Guanyi stroked the Fire Qilin's horn.

As for the people's fortune, we could temporarily substitute it with the Mo Sect's fortune—but the Mo Sect's methods are sinister; their fortune must be purified by the Nine Cauldrons' power. Yet the problem is this: the Western Regions lie tens of thousands of miles away, while the Nine Cauldrons remain in Jiangnan.

Li Guanyi cannot leave Jiangnan and still mobilize the Nine Cauldrons' power to accomplish this.

As for territory and metal ore, those are minor concerns.

And the awakening of the Nine Provinces Cauldron's divine resonance within him is also extremely difficult—these problems cannot be solved immediately. Yet Li Guanyi remained carefree, merely smiling and saying: "The great pass is as iron-bound as ever; now we stride forward anew."

He turned to the Ancient Taigu Chilong and teased: "Then, Elder, why not be a good dragon to the end and help me awaken the remaining eight-ninths of the Nine Cauldrons? It would spare me all this headache."

The Ancient Taigu Chilong fell silent and said:

"He really has the temper of that fellow from eight hundred years ago."

"Are you trying to drain my lifespan dry?"

"Eat dragon meat with wine."

Li Guanyi gave an awkward smile and persisted:

"Elder, about what happened in the Western Regions earlier..."

The Ancient Vermilion Dragon glared at him and said:

"I have already helped you forge the Nine Cauldrons and gather the Qi of the Human Dao."

"You brat, how audacious!"

"I've already said—if you can surprise me, then perhaps. But right now, it's not enough."

"Get down!"

"Eat, eat, eat—all you know is eating!"

The Ancient Vermilion Dragon suddenly whipped its tail, sending both the Fire Qilin, who was devouring its third flying bird, and Li Guanyi tumbling down; as they fell into the clouds, they were enveloped in a hazy drizzle.

The Jiangnan waterways are numerous; in some years, spring rain falls too heavily.

At this moment, Li Guanyi once again sensed the mystery of the Nine Cauldrons. He extended his hand, cupping it before him, aimed at the boundless cloud sea, as the fine rain fell gently; he slowly clenched his palm, and the ringing of the Nine Cauldrons sounded in his ears.

Li Guanyi felt that the Nine Cauldrons' power at this moment could perhaps halt the rain that had lasted for days.

In that instant, the falling rain paused slightly.

It hovered around Li Guanyi, not descending.

Li Guanyi descended from heaven and earth, surrounded by misty moisture like cloud patterns, murmuring: "The Emperor's decree: fix the Cauldrons in one land, to pacify Li Min."

"May winds and rains be timely, may the five grains flourish..."

"Such is the prayer of the Nine Cauldrons."

"Is this literal?"

Boom!!!

Amidst the low rumble of thunder, Li Guanyi saw the fleeting shadow of the Ancient Vermilion Dragon pass through the clouds; the control over the heavens' mist and vapors vanished instantly.

He fell downward, the Fire Qilin sprinting on flames, spinning once to steady itself midair, bearing Li Guanyi on its back as it glided through the sky; from high above the clouds, he looked down and saw the scent of incense rising from villages and fields, where people prayed for the rain to cease—thin white smoke curling upward.

Li Guanyi suppressed his inner shock and sensed the Nine Cauldrons' effect.

This feat required the Ancient Vermilion Dragon's aid.

It was the Nine Cauldrons leveraging the principle of "clouds follow the dragon," enabling such power.

Or was it the Ancient Vermilion Dragon's own ability?

Amplified greatly by the nature of the Nine Cauldrons, these state relics.

They cannot be used for combat, only to nurture all things.

Li Guanyi said: "The Nine Cauldrons are indeed not weapons for battle."

"Hmm, not in the conventional sense."

"Unless someone is foolish enough to try lifting the Nine Cauldrons."

"Or bold enough to challenge the Shanhe and the state itself, which the Nine Cauldrons represent..."

Li Guanyi gazed into the distance, seeing white smoke rising from village after village, thinking of the Ancient Vermilion Dragon's departure; the candidates chosen to accompany him to the Western Regions were already prepared.

Master Pan Wanshou of the Mohist school, in his prime.

Master Xu Tiange of the Agricultural school.

The Gongsun clan had originally planned to send Gongsun Feixue, but Gongsun Feixue is the young mistress of the Piaomiao Pavilion, which has now become one of Jiangnan's pillar industries; this young mistress glanced at the silver-haired girl beside her.

The silver-haired girl nibbled softly on a fluffy pastry, her ears perked up.

Gongsun Feixue smiled gently.

She firmly declined.

"I am not skilled in mechanism arts, only in commerce."

"If the Lord wishes to take someone skilled in mechanism arts, I recommend Elder Gongsun Huai Zhi."

With these preparations, the number heading west was not large; figures like Ling Pingyang and Wen Lingjun—iconic members of the Qilin Army and Tiance Prefecture—absolutely could not go.

If they went, it would plainly signal to the world that Li Guanyi was there.

Li Guanyi was already famed throughout the land.

Another symbol of being famed throughout the land was—

Everyone would be on high alert.

No one would treat you as a minor figure.

Step outside, and you'd draw the highest level of hostility across the entire region.

Mr. Master Wen He submitted a memorial: "If you appear openly in the Western Regions, you will directly attract blockade-level attacks from the original Thirty-Six Western Tribes, the remnants of the Tuyuhun, the Regent Prince, Chen's Lu Youxian, and every renowned general of the Ying State's Ducal House."

He gave an example: "Like when I was at the Imperial Academy, one of your morally flexible strategists suggested you use sticks, anesthetics, and ropes on me."

Xiao Zhi, Yuan Zhi: "…………"

Yuan Zhi's face showed embarrassment.

Xiao Zhi sneered, then stepped back one pace and silently wrote a note in his book.

【On a certain day of a certain month, Master Wen He mocked me before the Lord】

【I've recorded it】

Master Yan Daiqing asked curiously; Master Wen He did not say who, yet you immediately assumed it was you. Xiao Zhi said: "He said they suggested the Lord use ropes, sticks, and Ma Fei San—and that the person has low moral standards. Who else could it be but me?"

Master Yan Daiqing had no rebuttal.

And Master Wen He's proposal even included the entire "Mou Ji" chain of stratagems.

"A small ploy—I'm truly sorry I can't accompany you, my lord."

"So sorry I can't sleep at night from laughing."

"But I've still prepared a few suggestions."

"Your name resounds across the land—who doesn't know it?"

"If you reveal your true identity in the Western Regions, your treatment will be much like mine."

"After all, all under heaven knows Qin Wu Hou has seized the entire Jiangnan region; if you now take the Western Regions, linking the two, it becomes a situation where a coiled dragon ascends to heaven—impossible to control again."

"The warlords vying for the Western Regions will choose to unite and eliminate you."

Mr. Master Wen He used himself as an example—extremely vivid.

Li Guanyi had no rebuttal, so the final candidate for the Western Regions was settled as follows—

Pan Wanshou, inheritor of the Mohist mechanical arts.

Xu Tiange, a fervent agrarian enthusiast of farming and warfare.

Gongsun Huai Zhi, skilled in offensive mechanical devices such as the 'Revolving Crossbow' and 'Linked Ballista.'

Lei Laomeng, disciple of the Divine Beast Manor, the all-rounder.

Shi Lao, chief among the Seven Old Ghosts of the Fire Qilin.

Fan Qing, the Fire Qilin army's general most adept at talking with soldiers.

Changsun Wuchou, who can connect Li Guanyi and others with Li Li Zhaowen.

After pondering, Li Guanyi grabbed Nangong Wumeng, who was trying to slip away, and added her.

Nangong Wumeng, the Fire Qilin army's top in fortune and reconnaissance, bearer of the divine weapon Yin-Yang Wheel Ruler, the number one beauty of the martial world.

Voluntarily joined.

And incidentally, there's also that cheap older brother.

Wen Lingjun rubbed his temples and said: "Additionally, traveling from here to the Duke of Ying's mansion under the guise of a merchant caravan will take at least several months. Preparations are ready—I beg General Changsun Wuchou to deliver a message to Young Master Li Li Zhaowen."

"Tell him we shall depart shortly."

Changsun Wuchou naturally accepted the order and went to deliver the message to Li Li Zhaowen.

Though his heart burned with urgency, desperate to fly there immediately, he knew Li Guanyi was no longer what he once was—he was now master of the entire Jiangnan region, bearing the fate of a million households of Li Min, and could not depart lightly.

After Changsun Wuchou left, Wen Lingjun, the Chief Secretary of the Tiance Prefecture, gazed at the young sovereign. Li Guanyi sat by the window, a teapot on the table beside him, a small brazier roasting some shriveled longans. Wen Lingjun's voice was gentle: "My lord?"

"My lord..."

"The longans are burnt."

Wen Lingjun roused Li Guanyi, who peeled the longans and tossed them casually into the tea. "Lingjun, how long will this rain last...?"

Wen Lingjun looked out at the misty rain and said: "Jiangnan has always been rainy; these past years especially so—spring brings floods, autumn brings tides. The people all go to worship the gods, with deep devotion."

He poured tea for Li Guanyi; his sleeve fell, carrying the scent of pine after rain. "Decades ago, I heard of live sacrifices still occurring—during times of chaos, people grow even more devout toward the divine."

Li Guanyi lifted his tea, gazing at the sky, lost in thought:

"... Good wind and timely rain?"

Wen Lingjun said: "Yes—even the Son of Heaven must offer sacrifices to the gods."

"By the way, the great clans jointly proposed you, praising your immense merit, saying you're unparalleled, and so on—I won't recite their words; just hearing them makes my heart chill. They heap praise upon you, yet demand you build gardens to glorify your achievements."

Li Guanyi said: "These bastards—when force fails, they turn to soft corruption?"

Wen Lingjun said: "You must, as sovereign, offer sacrifices to the gods and pray for the rain to cease. This has been done in every dynasty. Moreover, before you depart for the Western Regions, this must be done to stabilize the people."

Li Guanyi pressed his temples. "Sacrifice to the gods... pray for rain?"

He asked casually: "Fine. How much will it cost?"

Wen Lingjun said: "At least thirty thousand taels of silver."

Li Guanyi froze.

He stared at Wen Lingjun, voice rising eight octaves: "That much?!"

Wen Lingjun said: "This is already frugal. The great clans have offered to contribute. Sacrificing to gods and heaven also stabilizes public sentiment. Otherwise, this unending rain will ruin spring planting and erode the people's trust."

"I know you think it's meaningless."

"But this act is necessary."

Li Guanyi said: "Even the common people spontaneously worship these gods?"

Wen Lingjun said: "Every village, every township has them."

Every village, every township has them...

How many gods, how many witch-priestesses, how many rituals must there be?

Li Guanyi rubbed his temples, murmuring: "How much money would that cost?"

Wen Lingjun said: "It's not just live sacrifices. In the past, even when people couldn't survive, they still performed sacrifices to the gods—perhaps because, in such despair, sacrificing to the gods was the only way left to anchor their souls."

Wen Lingjun sighed. Li Guanyi fell into thought.

Li Guanyi agreed: "Then before I depart for the Western Regions, we'll hold this 'sacrifice to the gods'—but on my terms. All pomp and ceremony are refused. No offerings of fruit or wine. Instead, invite the people from every township."

"Tell them in advance: this sacrifice will end this endless spring rain!"

Wen Lingjun watched Li Guanyi write something down, his expression shaken, staring at Li Guanyi:

"My lord... can this truly be done?"

Li Guanyi replied: "All I can say is, this world holds many wonders. Lingjun, prepare exactly as I've said." Wen Lingjun fell silent for a long while, then bowed and withdrew.

That day, Jiangnan prepared the sacrifice to the gods, just as before with the military parade—openly inviting the people. The common folk brought fruits and pastries as offerings, a habit now ingrained; unceasing rain affecting spring planting was a matter of life and death.

Hence the ancient Son of Heaven said: "The great affairs of state are sacrifice and war."

The great clans also attended in full regalia, inviting Daoists and various sorcerers to participate in the ceremony. Yet this sacrifice to the gods lacked the usual flowers and fruits. Aside from the Daoists and monks invited by the clans, Qin Wu Hou's side had no official ritual masters.

Instead, there stood armored soldiers clad in somber black armor, all draped in war cloaks, wielding halberds and longswords, their aura sharp and lethal. The great clans exchanged glances and whispered: "My Lord—what are you about to do?"

"Leading an army here, do you intend to kill a god?"

The scion of a noble family said: "We are no match for Qin Wu Hou, but even Qin Wu Hou's mortal weapons cannot kill a deity!"

The common people also began to sense something amiss, and unrest stirred among them.

Fang Ziqiao whispered: "What my younger brother intends to do is an unprecedented feat in history."

Wen Lingjun said: "My lord, you are a genius unmatched through the ages."

Fang Ziqiao smiled, saying nothing.

Continuous drizzle blanketed most of Jiangnan. Just as the people grew uneasy over this ceremony's deviation from the traditional rites to the gods, Li Guanyi appeared—Qin Wu Hou stepped forward in black armor, the Chixiao Sword hanging at his waist, a crimson battle robe flowing behind him.

Li Guanyi watched over the ritual proceedings, then suddenly drew his sword.

With a single slash, he cleaved open the altar, which according to the Red Emperor's Ministry of Rites was meant for the worship of countless complex deities. A stream of crimson-gold light surged along the Chixiao Sword; the altar shattered instantly. The people froze, their voices erupting in disbelief.

Li Guanyi exhaled a deep breath, rose, and pressed the tip of the Chixiao Sword to the ground. His sharp gaze swept over the crowd, and he declared loudly: "From this day forward, abolish the three grand sacrifices and twelve minor ones each year. You say the endless rain is divine punishment?"

"Good, I believe it!"

"Today, we slay the gods!"

All were stunned, pale with disbelief. Li Guanyi reached out his hand into the rain; golden light spread and coalesced into the Po-Yun Zhen-Tian Bow. The young lord stood upon the shattered altar, and before the eyes of the sorcerers and monks, filled with horror and disbelief, he aimed the bow at heaven and earth.

Wen Lingjun stared fixedly at this scene.

He recalled when he had spoken to Li Guanyi about this matter before: "If this fails, public sentiment may turn."

The lord had laughed: "You've never walked among the people, so you don't understand."

"The people are practical. A deity must be useful to be a god."

"Today, I offer sacrifice to tell the people: these gods are useless. Destroy these hundreds of deities across Jiangnan's two thousand li, and the people will save much money—no longer burdened by kneeling before false gods."

"This is slaying the gods within the heart."

At that time, Wen Lingjun had looked at Qin Wu Hou and said: "Since ancient times, even the Son of Heaven kneels to worship the gods. If your act fails, you will be branded a traitor, infamous for ten thousand years."

Qin Wu Hou had burst into loud laughter: "Then, Master, will you join Li Guanyi in treason and eternal infamy?!"

Wen Lingjun lowered his eyes, recalling his answer then, and now whispered:

"How could I refuse?"

Li Guanyi connected with the Nine Cauldrons of Jiangnan; the momentum of human destiny surged skyward. He had previously forged a bond with the Ancient Taigu Chilong, and now sensed its presence—he smiled faintly. Golden light erupted from the Po-Yun Zhen-Tian Bow, shooting straight into the heavens.

The people were terrified; even the noble families were stunned, all kneeling prostrate on the ground. Only the Fire Qilin Army, torn between centuries of ingrained ritual worship and their loyalty to Li Guanyi, chose Li Guanyi.

They raised their weapons in unison and roared: "Wind!"

"Wind!"

"Great Wind!"

The rain fell harder, striking their armor.

Time seemed to slow. All raised their heads as the arrow soared into the sky. The Nine Cauldrons' momentum surged, and then, centered on Li Guanyi's arrow, the clouds and auroras collapsed violently, forming a ring that exploded outward in all directions.

What a magnificent sight.

In that instant, no one could speak.

In an instant, the rain ceased. The long-lasting clouds over Jiangnan gradually parted, and golden sunlight spilled down. Wen Lingjun's heart pounded wildly—he finally felt at ease, seeing only golden light showering the earth.

All knelt. Only one stood. Amid the ringing of the sword, all saw Qin Wu Hou pressing the Chixiao Sword to the ground, his left hand clasped around the hilt, his right hand extended, his voice ringing clear: "It seems even gods are nothing!"

"Let all karmic retribution fall upon me."

"From this day forward, abolish sacrifices and altar rites across two thousand li."

"From this day forward, worship shall be offered only to Heaven and Earth, the State, and the Ancestors."

"Beyond these three, no one may lead the people in worship—even grand sacrifices shall be reduced from forty-nine days to three."

A Daoist cried out: "This has never been done since ancient times!"

The sword's ring rang sharply, cutting off his cry. Golden sunlight fell upon his sleeves; the Qilin pattern was clear. Qin Wu Hou clasped both hands around the sword hilt, his brow calm as he gazed upon the people before him: "Then from this day, I, this Marquis, no longer honor the rites of worship."

"Unless I decree it—"

"No one shall be called a god!!!"

The Ancient Taigu Chilong glided through the clear sky, watching the changes in the mortal realm.

At this moment, the momentum of human destiny suddenly grew denser. The Ancient Taigu Chilong murmured: "By eradicating worship of hundreds of minor and major gods, redirecting that energy to humanity, saving the people's spiritual strength—it has actually strengthened human destiny..."

"Unless I decree it, no one shall be called a god."

"Hmph. How utterly tyrannical."

"Such bearing... sending you to the Western Regions wouldn't be impossible..."

The Ancient Taigu Chilong murmured—then suddenly sensed a change—

With Jiangnan's upheaval, the purity of human destiny within the Nine Cauldrons intensified.

A thread of the people's collective human destiny surged toward him!

The Ancient Taigu Chilong's expression changed instantly.

Huh?!!

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