Chapter 414

Behind him stood Si Hanfei and several warriors dressed in Yuan dynasty attire.

"This… the Yuan dynasty has sent out all its elite?"

Though Wu Zetian couldn't identify all these Yuan masters, the sheer display made it clear.

"I didn't expect the Great Ming Palace to be so lively—my coming here is quite fitting."

From the western corner of the Great Ming Palace, a group of riders suddenly emerged.

At their head stood a man clad in a black crown, looking somewhat frail, yet his brow radiated an aura of natural authority.

Shang Yang, Bai Qi, Bei Mingzi, Lord Donghuang Taiyi, Xun Qing, and other Great Qin masters followed him closely, step by step.

"Are you His Majesty, Prince Zichu of Great Qin?"

The Lotus Life Buddha and Wu Zetian recognized him instantly, their hearts filled with shock.

Wasn't it rumored that Prince Zichu reigned for only three years before dying, allowing Hearing Ying Zheng to ascend?

And wasn't Zichu, having been held hostage since childhood, physically weak and unable to cultivate?

How, then, is he not only appearing now, but also possessing such extraordinary strength?

Not a single one of the Tang Empire's Imperial Protectors or the Lotus Life Buddha could perceive his true level.

"Is this the hidden card that makes Great Qin supreme among the Three Imperial Dynasties?"

Wu Zetian's pupils contracted sharply; she vaguely guessed Zichu was one of Great Qin's hidden cards.

"I didn't expect that after my long absence from the mortal world, the Empress of Tang and the Lotus Life Buddha still remember me."

Zichu smiled faintly and pointed at Shan Wanjing.

"But let's skip the reminiscing—this woman, my son desires her. Will the two of you part with her?"

Arrogant!

Though phrased as a request, Bei Mingzi and Xun Qing had already stepped to either side of Shan Wanjing, ready to take her away.

The Lotus Life Buddha and Wu Zetian both frowned, yet neither spoke to stop them.

Great Qin's strength towers above the Three Imperial Dynasties, its ranks brimming with masters.

Now that Zichu has reappeared, it's clear Great Qin is beginning to flex its muscles.

To confront the Qinglong Society, we must ally with Great Qin.

Zichu is also the father of Qin Huang Hearing Ying Zheng.

It's better to offend anyone than to offend Zichu.

We lack both strength and influence.

The Lotus Life Buddha and Wu Zetian exchanged bitter smiles, ready to let Zichu take Shan Wanjing.

"Hey, did any of you ask me?"

Lord Chuan Ying leapt forward, arriving beside Shan Wanjing and giving a light push that sent Bei Mingzi and Xun Qing stumbling back.

"Young man, don't be too arrogant…"

Zichu remained unmoved, gazing coldly at Lord Chuan Ying.

"Though the Great Dragon Chief's Dao resonance is indeed astonishing, do you truly believe the Three Imperial Dynasties have no countermeasures?"

As he spoke, Zichu drew from his wide sleeve an ancient, plain jade seal.

With a slight infusion of true qi, the dim seal immediately emitted a faint glow.

Though faint, every expert present could sense the seal's extraordinary nature.

After all, the glow it emitted faintly rivaled the Dao resonance jade pendant Lord Chuan Ying had displayed earlier.

"The Imperial Seal!"

Wu Zetian and the Lotus Life Buddha both gasped in shock.

They hadn't expected Great Qin, over such a trivial matter, would deploy its national treasure—the Imperial Seal.

Folk tales say the Imperial Seal originated when a craftsman named Bian He discovered a flawless jade in the mountains.

Bian He presented this jade to the then-ruling Qin Wang, who, to honor his deed, named it "He Shi Bi."

But this is merely legend!

The true He Shi Bi was forged over generations by Great Qin's former kings, who spared no cost to infuse it with Great Qin's dragon qi.

Thus, the jade gradually absorbed Great Qin's dragon qi, enabling each successive Qin Emperor to purify their marrow and refine their body, clearing all impurities and paving a smooth path for cultivation.

This jade is also one of Great Qin's core treasures; when wielded by the Qin Emperor, each strike unleashes the vast, overwhelming dragon qi of the dynasty.

Ordinary warriors cannot stand against the imperial sovereigns of the major dynasties precisely because of this imperial dragon qi.

Great Qin has always been the foremost imperial dynasty, and its dragon qi is naturally the strongest in the world.

Zichu, already formidable, now wields the He Shi Bi, which grants him command over Great Qin's dragon qi.

His true combat power has risen by several steps.

He still couldn't match Ximen Wudi in a direct clash.

But against this Dao resonance, Zichu might just succeed if he pushed himself to the limit.

"Impressive…"

Lord Chuan Ying hadn't expected the former Qin Emperor to bring forth such a treasure.

He had intervened precisely because the more an enemy desired something, the less he should let them have it.

He thought Shan Wanjing was passably beautiful and clearly entangled in some deeper matter.

Bringing her back to present to the Great Dragon Chief would be a major achievement.

Along with the two secret manuals—The Great Dao Heart Seed Demon Art and The Demon Heart Seed Dao Technique.

If the Great Dragon Chief was pleased, he might reward him with a Breakthrough Nascent Soul Pill—or something similar.

Wouldn't that elevate his own strength?

For martial artists, from the moment they enter the Earthly Immortal Realm, every step forward is immensely difficult, requiring vast amounts of time to grind away at.

Slowly enduring bitter cultivation—how could that compare to the swift advancement gained from doing missions for the Grand Dragon Head?

But now, it's truly a case of riding the tiger and finding it hard to dismount!

If he advances, what if the Dao Rhyme Jade Pendant he relies on fails to hold the situation?

If he retreats, where would the Qinglong Society's face be placed?

251—Nine Provinces Combat Power Apex List—(tied) Twenty-Ninth Place!

Just as the scene had grown somewhat frozen, and even Lord Chuan Ying did not know what to do.

Above the vault of the heavens, the Heavenly Dao Golden List suddenly burst forth with boundless radiant colors.

In an instant, the Jin Guang splashed down into every corner of the Nine Provinces' lands.

Even though it was still night at this time, everyone was startled awake.

After several breaths, the Jin Guang gradually faded, and lines of small characters slowly appeared.

【Nine Provinces Combat Power Apex List—Twenty-Ninth Place: Sun En, Cultivation: Early Stage of Myth.】

【Identity: Great Tang Celestial Master Dao Sect Leader, honored as 'Dao Lord', Great Tang Nation-Protecting Enshrined Sage】

【The Great Tang Celestial Master Dao, though originating from the Celestial Master Mansion founded by Zhang Daoling.】

【But Sun En is not a descendant of the Celestial Master lineage, so he could only forge a different path.】

【The Dao has three thousand six hundred gates, each person clings to their own single sprout root.】

【To know the true hidden key, one must look beyond the three thousand six hundred gates.】

【Sun En therefore thoroughly studied Daoist works such as the 'Dao Zang', 'Laozi's Three Thousand Words', and the 'Dao De Jing'】

【And unexpectedly comprehended the 'Huang Tian Grand Law'】

【This art is divided into nine layers】

【The first layer refines the heart that is not yet pure】

【The second layer refines the heart that has entered samadhi】

【The third layer refines the heart of Heaven and Earth】

【The fourth layer refines the heart of concealed retreat】

【The fifth layer refines the heart of foundation establishment】

【The sixth layer refines the heart that has comprehended nature】

【The seventh layer refines the heart that is already enlightened】

【The eighth layer refines the heart that has returned to itself】

【The ninth layer is Huang Tian Wuji】