Lord Shenxiu
Chapter 839 839: Mandate of Heaven (2400 Bonus Words)
On Kunlun Mountain.
Zhong Shenxiu looked at Liu Ji with a smile.
Were the thoughts in his heart truly his own?
"Does Liu Ji think that I gave him Spiritual Medicine to help him improve his cultivation so that he would emulate Zao Fu and establish the Great Han? Hehe... little does he know, this is just my compensation..."
"In fact, even his abandonment of the idea of conquest was subtly influenced by the Heavenly Dao..."
At Zhong Shenxiu's level, it's no difficult task at all to subtly twist a Cultivator's will without leaving a trace.
The means he employed just now were even more exquisite, influencing things so subtly that the other party believed their resistance was a decision they made after careful consideration.
Little did they know, everything had already fallen into the net of the Heavenly Dao!
Liu Ji thought he didn't want to play anymore, not realizing it was Zhong Shenxiu who made him think so!
"The reality set by the ideal state does not necessarily have to match my true history... but rather the history script I have set."
Zhong Shenxiu shook his head.
Unfortunately, he had no particular relationship with Liu Ji, but he did have ties with those from the Second Yan Han Empire.
In this world, it was evident that Xiang Yu and Yu Ji establishing the Yan Han Empire was the prevailing trend! It was the history script he had woven!
This was in line with his expectations and predictions!
"Moreover, the Refining God and Returning Void of the Refining God Realm has been deduced... the next realm should be... the Void Realm!"
Zhong Shenxiu's design of the new Immortal Law followed the tenet of refining essence to transform qi, refining qi to transform God, refining God and returning to Void, refining Void and merging with Dao.
Included within this, refining essence to transform qi encompasses the Qi Refinement and Foundation Establishment realms.
Refining qi to transform God can be divided into the Core Formation and Nascent Soul realms.
Following this, Refining God and Returning Void comprises the Refining God and Void realms!
"What remains, refining Void and merging with Dao, is the method of transcending to become an ancestor Immortal, extremely miraculous... Liu Ji may not successfully break through, but fortunately, I still have five great weapons hidden."
Zhong Shenxiu looked at the five strands of True Spirit in his hand and smiled slightly.
These naturally were the five ascended Immortals from the Second Yan Han Empire.
Being able to prove the Dao and become Immortal means that whether in terms of aptitude, talent, perseverance, or opportunity... they are top-tier!
Five Lotus Primordial Monarch had the potential to become Immortal but required much tempering, and in the end, success was not guaranteed, whereas these five were true Immortals!
After the torrent of sifting, what remains must be true gold!
Zhong Shenxiu was unwilling to use them prematurely, intending to release these five Immortals when the Immortal Dao flourished, promoting a significant step forward for the Immortal Dao!
...
Xiang Yu founded Yan Han, changing the era name to 'Heavenly Mandate'!
In the blink of an eye, it was the year two of Heavenly Mandate.
That year, many small feudal lords submitted, the greatest rebel leader Liu Ji achieved a breakthrough in his cultivation and disappeared without a trace, his followers falling into disorder but later surrendering to Yan Han under the leadership of Xiao He, Fan Kuai, and others.
From then on, the world was thoroughly unified, and Emperor Bahuang adopted a policy of non-interference, allowing the empire's citizens to recuperate and gradually heal the losses and damages brought by war.
In Taiyuan Palace.
Emperor Xiang Yu, or Unity True Monarch, sat cross-legged in meditation, refining qi.
There was a faint Divine Light around him, and the Nascent Soul within him seemed to be continuously growing, not far from the Refining God Realm.
"The Immortal Dao of this world is quite interesting... not only is there no frenzy or chaotic influence, but it is also distinctly different from the Yan Han Immortal Technique, somewhat reminiscent of the Ancient Immortal Method of Taihuangtian within it..."
After a long while, Unity True Monarch's eyes emanated Divine Light as he mumbled to himself, "The Foundation Establishment in refining qi is just as it is, the Core Formation realm is somewhat weaker than the Primordial Pill, while the Nascent Soul realm is stronger yet not equal to a true Primordial Spirit... perhaps breaking through the 'Refining God' realm of Refining God and Returning Void, allowing the Nascent Soul to mature completely, would make it comparable to an actual Primordial Spirit Practitioner?"
After all, he was once a Dharma Body, and although Yan Han Immortal Technique differed from today's Daoist Skill, his vision and insight remained.
Breaking through Refining God was merely a question of time.
As for re-cultivating Yan Han Immortal Technique to quickly regain power?
Unity True Monarch had no such plan; although the Yan Han Immortal Technique was powerful and mysterious, it also harbored fairly terrifying negative effects.
If there were a present threat or imminent survival crisis, he might not care about such concerns and would have no choice but to drink poison to quench thirst.
But now that the world was unified with no external foes and a brilliant situation, he definitely did not desire to walk the old path again.
"While re-cultivating the Yan Han Technique might swiftly achieve a Dharma Body, it would only be a Dharma Body... neither I nor Big Sis have any potential left, and we wouldn't dare try to transcend to become Immortals!"
The last time they lost control, they barely held back peril, and further cultivation risked madness or transforming into abominations!
"Perhaps this new Immortal Law, if there are even higher realms above Refining God, could support our breakthrough to an existence comparable to a Dharma Body, or even... transcendence to become Immortals?"
The eyes of Unity True Monarch carried a hint of longing.
Just then, a fragrant breeze passed outside; it was the return of Nine Spirit Dragon Mother Primordial Monarch.
"Big Sis!"
Unity True Monarch called out, recalling past events involving Xiang Yu and Yu Ji, causing his expression to become somewhat unnatural.
After all, he knew the Nine Spirit Dragon Mother Primordial Monarch was actually once a man...
The Nine Spirit Dragon Mother Primordial Monarch, however, had no feelings about this, as all Dharma Body practitioners were in high realms, such matters were trivial and could pass with a smile.
Besides, she had given birth to an uncountable number of vile beasts as the Nine Spirit Dragon Mother, so it wasn't of any consequence.
"Back in the days of Seven Luminaries Heaven, we merely struggled to support the country; unexpectedly, in this new world, we can rebuild the Yan Han Empire... as long as the Kunlun God does not emerge, we shall firmly suppress the world."
Nine Spirit Dragon Mother Primordial Monarch laughed.
They still did not know that this place was actually Seven Luminaries Heaven.
"I plan to reign as Emperor for a sixty-year cycle, then pass the throne to my descendants and retreat for continued cultivation... hoping the Immortal quest in this life shall fulfill my lifelong wish!"
Unity True Monarch said solemnly, then asked, "Big Sis, did everything go smoothly on your trip?"
"Integrating Liu Ji's troops and counties went quite smoothly, and I discovered his whereabouts..."
At this point, Nine Spirit Dragon Mother Primordial Monarch's demeanor turned slightly solemn: "This person gained fortuitous opportunity, broke through to the Refining God Realm, and now resides in Zhongnan Mountain, calling himself 'Gourd Immortal,' focusing on clear cultivation, ignoring worldly affairs."
"Immortal? Hehe..."
Unity True Monarch was taken aback, a touch of sarcasm emerging but then quickly became serious: "He hasn't emulated Zao Fu, so it seems he's indeed given up on conquest... but we too need to promptly break through Refining God!"
With the return of memories, given the capability of the Dharma Body, even being at the Nascent Soul realm, if Liu Ji dared to attack, there would be methods to achieve mutual damage, or even mutual destruction!
"Naturally, while you manage the court, I will focus solely on cultivation, and in about three years, I should achieve Refining God!"
Nine Spirit Dragon Mother Primordial Monarch answered without expression, as it was merely an alternate-system Primordial Spirit.