Chapter 819

The Shushan mentioned by Lord Yunzhong was known to most of those present.

It was said that within the borders of Han, a remote mountain region bordering the Ten Thousand Mountains was named Shushan by Han.

Within Shushan lived a clan called the Yu Clan.

The people of the Yu Clan were born with divine abilities, skilled in secret arts, shamanic spells, and more.

Deep within the Yu Clan lay a Fusang tree, said to be the roost of the Jin Wu.

The Yin-Yang School, led by Lord Donghuang Taiyi, counted the Jin Wu among its ranks.

Thus, the Yin-Yang School once secretly launched a large-scale assault on the Yu Clan of Shushan, seeking to seize the Fusang tree.

In the end, they succeeded in taking the Fusang tree and transplanted it atop the Shenlou.

But the most critical point was that after the Fusang tree was transplanted, rumors spread of demons and monsters appearing in Shushan.

In the past, the ministers would have laughed it off, dismissing it as superstition.

Now, with Lord Yunzhong suddenly mentioning it, they recalled the Blue Demon ranked nineteenth on the Heavenly Dao Golden List, and the demonic forces of the Yin Yue Imperial Court that had appeared in Guobei Town of Tang.

Instantly, the ministers fell into deep thought.

Could demons and monsters truly exist?

In the world behind Shushan, as Lord Yunzhong had said?

"Perhaps this matter could be directly asked of the Qinglong Society?"

Chancellor Li Si fell into deep thought, and after all others had spoken, suddenly said this.

The Lanchi Hall fell silent.

Emperor Qin Huang Hearing Ying Zheng's furrowed brows relaxed, and his eyes brightened.

"That makes sense!"

Shang Yang's introduction on the Heavenly Dao Golden List did not specify what the Ten Thousand Worlds truly were.

Yet the introduction of the Third Dragon Head, Senior Dugu Qiubai, did mention the Ten Thousand Worlds.

Senior Dugu Qiubai was able to comprehend the essence of the Ten Thousand Worlds' sword Dao because Jue Xin used the Great Evil King to thrust his consciousness into the Nine Void Realms.

Then the First Dragon Head personally went to retrieve him, bringing Senior Dugu Qiubai and others into another world.

Combined with the First Dragon Head's long residence in the Sword Realm without return, his ability to shatter realms with a single sword, and his title as the Number One Taboo of the Nine Provinces.

Throughout the world, if anyone knew the Ten Thousand Worlds best, it was the First Dragon Head, Ximen Wudi.

"Chancellor, your words are wise, yet since the Ten Thousand Worlds are so solemnly mentioned by the Heavenly Dao Golden List,

both Shang Jun's Shang Jun Book and the Third Dragon Head's essence of the Ten Thousand Worlds Sword Dao are exceedingly rare.

Clearly, the existence of the Ten Thousand Worlds transcends our Nine Provinces.

How could the Qinglong Society casually reveal such a secret to us?"

But Minister Zhou Qingchen voiced a different opinion.

"Minister Zhou speaks wisely!

Moreover, Prince Hearing Fusu and Master Xiaomeng have been gone a long time—no one knows if they've even reached Qinglong Peak yet!"

It had been only a short while since the Qinglong Society agreed to allow Qin's visit to Qinglong Peak.

Prince Hearing Fusu and Master Xiaomeng had long since departed Qin, as agreed.

No wonder Wei Liaozi said that.

But Hearing Ying Zheng smiled calmly and said,

"My two ministers overthink this. Hearing Fusu and Xiaomeng have only just established contact with the Qinglong Society's Altar Master.

To ascend Qinglong Peak, they are told they must still wait.

This request to ask the Qinglong Society is still timely enough to entrust to them."

"And how will the Qinglong Society respond?"

The ministers did not press the question again, but most of their eyes carried that very meaning.

Hearing Ying Zheng fell into deep thought, then said,

"Then let Hearing Fusu ask on our behalf, and see how the Qinglong Society responds before we decide."

Indeed, negotiation requires seeing the other side's offer.

The matter of the Ten Thousand Worlds was concluded here in the Lanchi Hall.

Changing the subject, the ministers turned to discuss Lin Tiannan, the new entrant on the Heavenly Dao Golden List and leader of the Nanwulin Alliance in the Ten Thousand Mountains.

Information on the Ten Thousand Mountains had entered the Heavenly Dao Golden List for the first time.

For the first time, the world learned of this place, and the people of the Nine Provinces became aware that such a location existed within their realm.

Lin Tiannan, originally of mediocre martial skill, achieved supreme Mythical Realm cultivation through travels and enlightenment, earning a place on the Heavenly Dao Golden List.

One could say Lin Tiannan had astonishing talent, or simply extraordinary fortune.

The scorching southern lands and Lin Tiannan's Lin Family Sword Art had left countless people curious.

As Emperor Qin Huang Hearing Ying Zheng, who aspired to unify the Nine Provinces, he too was deeply curious.

"My lords, Lin Tiannan is clearly an excellent candidate for alliance.

Gaining Lin Tiannan would greatly strengthen our Qin's power.

Coincidentally, Lin Tiannan is now holding a Wu Zhao to choose a son-in-law for his daughter—what recommendations do you have?"

A Wu Zhao requires young talents.

Qin had no shortage of young talents.

After Hearing Ying Zheng spoke, Prince Yanri Wang Ben stepped forward and said,

"Your Majesty, my son Wang Li, though young, has fully inherited my father's military strategies, tactics, and martial arts.

I now volunteer for Qin to enter the Ten Thousand Mountains and vow to bring back Lin Tiannan's beloved daughter!"

The Ten Thousand Mountains is a region never ventured into by any of the great imperial dynasties, for its miasmas blot out sun and sky, and its peaks rise in endless layers.

Ordinary people rarely seek to explore that deep mountain wilderness.

But now is a fine opportunity to serve the state, and Wang Ben naturally did not wish to miss it.

His father was none other than Wang Jian, the supreme war general of the Qin Huang Dynasty, famed alongside Bai Qi!

"Excellent. If the Wang family's steed is willing to go, it could not be better."

Hearing Ying Zheng's eyes lit up—he was somewhat familiar with Wang Li—and immediately clapped his hands in delight, agreeing at once.

"My son Meng Yi, though not as talented as the eldest grandson of Grand General Wang, is still fit to serve the state."

General Meng Wu now stepped forward and spoke.

The Wang family gradually rose to become key military ministers of the Qin court during Prince Zichu's era.

The Meng family, however, was a trusted military faction elevated by Hearing Ying Zheng after his ascension.

Now that Meng Wu proposed Meng Yi's dispatch, Hearing Ying Zheng pondered briefly, then agreed.

Wang Li came from a high-born lineage and had just entered the Earthly Immortal Realm in martial cultivation.

Meng Yi, by contrast, because his family had been backed by the current Qin Huang, had reached the mid-stage of the Earthly Immortal Realm.

With these two dispatched, theoretically it should be sufficient.

Yet considering Lin Tiannan's peculiar fate and the great mystery of the Ten Thousand Mountains,

though two young paragons of Qin had been sent, Hearing Ying Zheng still felt uneasy.

"Your Majesty…"

The eunuch Chongxin, who stood beside Hearing Ying Zheng, suddenly whispered.

"Hmm?"

Hearing Ying Zheng cast a displeased glance at Chongxin.

As a mighty sovereign, Hearing Ying Zheng truly detested eunuchs meddling in state affairs.

Thus, though Zhao Gao was capable, he often received reprimands from Hearing Ying Zheng.

In the end, Hearing Ying Zheng temporarily exiled him to Lishan, removing him from the Qin court's power center for a long time.

After Zhao Gao's departure, the eunuch faction fell silent for a long while.

Yet now, during the deliberations at Lanchi Hall, this eunuch Chongxin dared to speak up.

"Your servant is guilty…"

Chongxin saw the Qin Huang's displeasure and immediately prostrated himself, banging his head hard against the ground.

"Enough…"