Everlasting Immortal Firmament

The news of the Han Nation experts forcing nearly all the Spirit Mountain Holy Land experts into retreat seemed to grow wings, spreading all over the world.

This was especially so now that messenger zither puppets existed. With the countless spies from other factions in Borderless Heavenly Capital, the entire process of this battle was broadcast practically live.

The information about the battle at Borderless Heavenly Capital quickly arrived at the most prominent position on the desks of countless sovereigns and sect masters.

The battle became world famous.

That was the Spirit Mountain Holy Land. Besides the Present Buddha, all of the Spirit Mountain Holy Land’s experts had been there in person, yet they failed to deal with Gu Hai. No, it was not just that. Some reports included a rough description of the battle in Three Mountains City from spies who had witnessed it outside Three Mountains City.

In these two battles, the Southern Sea Dragon King, Long Shenying, Long Shenwu, Ao Sheng, Lifespan Beiming, Lifespan Chunshen, the Future Buddha, the Past Buddha, Vishnu, Brahma, Shiva, Di Shitian, a nameless powerful sword cultivator, and even the Present Buddha’s dharmic incarnation appeared.

These fourteen names were almost all world-famous experts. However, the Han Nation eventually won despite the fourteen experts cooperating to attack Gu Hai.

This was an incredible outcome.

This was not what an imperial dynasty should be capable of. This was practically the level of a heavenly dynasty.

With these fourteen experts working together, no imperial dynasty or mid-tier sect in the world should be able to repulse them. However, Gu Hai had done so.

“It can ward off the Spirit Mountain Holy Land experts? The Han Nation is already that strong?”

“Borderless Heavenly Capital is flying to the Divine Continent’s cardinal north position. Is the Han Imperial Dynasty going to snatch a cardinal position of the Divine Continent and advance to a heavenly dynasty?”

“The Han Nation? Just how long has passed, and it has already developed into such a colossus?”

“The Han Imperial Dynasty is showing signs of advancing. It is truly unstoppable!”

…

Countless experts frowned, most of them shocked at the Han Imperial Dynasty. Simultaneously, a small portion of them started to plot together.

The sovereigns and sect masters of the factions neighboring the Han Nation contacted one another with zither puppets.

“What does everyone think about the Han Nation’s growth?”

“The Han Nation? What is it? I could crush it like an ant in the past!”

“We cannot let it grow any stronger. Otherwise, we will not have any chance to rise to prominence in the future.”

“Although the Han Nation became famous after this battle, it has countless enemies. We can use this chance to destroy it!”

“How about we work together and suppress it before it succeeds?”

“Excellent!”

“Excellent!”

…

There were three imperial dynasties and three mid-tier sects near the Han Imperial Dynasty. They conspired to besiege and annihilate the Han Imperial Dynasty.

------

Three Mountains City:

Many soldiers quickly rushed over from the surrounding cities. Many of the Three Mountains City citizens’ friends and families who received the news came with the soldiers.

When they entered Three Mountains City, they felt horrified.

Corpses filled the entire city; not a single person was spared. Both man and beast alike had died in miserable states. The stench of corpses assaulted the nose.

“Father, this child returned late!”

“My daughter! My daughter! Where are you?”

“Grandfather! Grandmother! Aaaaah!”

The people who rushed back lamented when they found the corpses of their family. A gloomy atmosphere filled Three Mountains City.

“Immediately collect the corpses of all those who died, and bury them in nanmu wood coffins. His Reverence said he would repay this grudge against the Spirit Mountain Holy Land a hundredfold in the future. Borderless Heavenly Capital will fly over here ten days later, and His Reverence will come to pay homage to the dead citizens. Work quickly!” a general shouted.

[TL Note: Nanmu wood comes from Phoebe zhennan, a vulnerable species of trees found in China. In the past, nanmu wood was so valuable that only royalty could afford it. Here is the Wikipedia entry on it: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nanmu.]

“Yes!”

The many soldiers formed several teams that quickly collected the corpses of the Three Mountains City citizens.

The longer the soldiers spent collecting the corpses, the greater their sorrow and rage. They felt resentment and hatred towards the Spirit Mountain Holy Land.

The news spread quickly to all the Han Nation citizens. The Han Imperial Dynasty’s citizenry felt furious.

A grudge should not involve innocents, and hatred should not affect the citizens.

The Spirit Mountain Holy Land had cruelly destroyed Three Mountains City. Would it cruelly destroy the Han Imperial Dynasty’s other cities in the future?

The cultivations of ordinary citizens were among the lowest, but were the lives of ordinary citizens not lives?

“The Spirit Mountain Holy Land is no Buddhist Dao holy land! It is a land of demons!”

“Why are you still worshiping the Spirit Mountain Holy Land’s buddhas? They treat people like grass. Three Mountains City today, you tomorrow!”

“I heard this almost happened to Borderless Heavenly Capital. Back then, the Future Buddha wanted to kill all the citizens in the city. He used the citizens as hostages against the officials to get them to stop resisting. He used the citizens’ lives to threaten Lord Mo, Duke Tianshan, and His Highness the Crown Prince. Eventually, His Highness the Crown Prince chose to give up than let the citizens die.”

“His Reverence loves his citizens like they are his sons. The various lords would rather die than let the citizens die. Living in the Han Nation is our blessing!”

“The Spirit Mountain demons will die horrible deaths!”

…

The citizens’ support solidified further in the Han Imperial Dynasty. Even citizens from the recently captured Wu Imperial Dynasty cities, who initially rejected the Han Nation, felt that being in the Han Nation was a wonderful thing. At the very least, the Han Nation’s sovereign and officials loved the citizens like their sons, preferring to die to protect the citizens.

This was how the citizens’ support was. Sometimes, one event could impress the citizens and make them acknowledge the nation.

The citizenry’s confidence in the Han Nation quickly transformed into blessings rushing into Borderless Heavenly Capital’s sky.

The Han Nation’s blessings increased at a wild pace.

Likewise, the matters of the Han Nation quickly spread to the neighboring nations and sects, even beyond.

“Father, the Han Imperial Dynasty holds an imperial exam once a year. This child would like to take the Han Imperial Dynasty’s imperial exam!”

“Master, the Han Imperial Dynasty prioritizes benevolence. It has gained the citizens’ support and belongs to the heavenly way. This disciple would like to see the Han Imperial Dynasty!”

“Senior Brother, I want to join the Han Imperial Dynasty!”

…

The Han Imperial Nation’s fame quickly propagated through the world, riding on the back of the Spirit Mountain Holy Land’s infamy. Countless talents earmarked the Han Imperial Dynasty as their ideal.

Perhaps this might not show an immediate effect, but in time, the Han Imperial Dynasty would attract more talents from all over the world.

------

The emperor’s study, Borderless Heavenly Capital:

Meng Tai said respectfully, “Your Reverence is farsighted. Six large restless factions intend to attack when Your Reverence pays homage to the dead citizens in Three Mountains City.”

“Oh?”

“According to reports, there are three imperial dynasties and three mid-tier sects. They even sent people to the Ying Imperial Dynasty and the Spirit Mountain Holy Land to seek aid!” Meng Tai said gravely.

“Only three imperial sects and three mid-tier sects?” Gu Hai asked, looking at Meng Tai.

“Yes. The Embroidered Uniform Guards captured the most pampered grandchild of one of the sect masters. That grandchild is useless and incapable, spilling everything the moment he got captured.” Meng Tai smiled.

“They are just a gathering of weaklings, nothing to fear,” Gu Hai said indifferently, shaking his head.

“This official will step up the surveillance on them. I will immediately report to Your Reverence once there is any information,” Meng Tai said respectfully.

“Alright.” Gu Hai nodded. “How goes the Embroidered Uniform Guard’s information dissemination?”

“This official has already informed all the Embroidered Uniform Guards deployed worldwide. They will spread the matter of the Spirit Mountain Holy Land’s killing the Three Mountains City citizens and wanting to kill the Borderless Heavenly Capital citizens. This will make everyone support the Han Imperial Dynasty and turn their backs on the Spirit Mountain Holy Land!” Meng Tai said with some excitement.

Although Meng Tai was not as smart as Mo Yike and the others, he was not stupid. He could tell from Gu Hai’s arrangements that Gu Hai was announcing his ambition to promote the Han Imperial Dynasty to the entire Divine Continent.

This thought made Meng Tai incredibly excited.

“Everyone in the world will support the Han Imperial Dynasty? That is impossible. It is sufficient to just give everyone a good impression of the Han Nation. We cannot let the reputation gained by Mo Yike, Gu Qin, and Chen Tianshan’s risking their lives be forgotten just like that. We can use the hottest topic of the Spirit Mountain Holy Land to spread the Han Nation’s name into the hearts of all the people in the world,” Gu Hai said.

“Yes!”

“Sects and nations are made up of people from all walks of life. Just like how the Spirit Mountain Holy Land has virtuous esteemed monks, it also has some immoralities. The Embroidered Uniform Guard should have many of such reports, right? Spread them along with this wave!” Gu Hai said.

“Yes!” Meng Tai answered with a solemn expression.

“You are dismissed,” Gu Hai said indifferently.

Meng Tai left the study respectfully.

Gu Hai paced to a wall of the study where a map hung.

The map had the words Spirit Mountain Holy Land written in large characters on it.

Gu Hai showed a grave expression. “The Spirit Mountain Holy Land? This is just the tip of the iceberg? Then let’s begin by destroying this tip of the iceberg.”

He slowly sank into deep thought.

Previously, Gu Hai did not have the ability to shake up a major faction like the Spirit Mountain Holy Land and did not dare to think about how to do so. Now that the Han Imperial Dynasty had built up accumulations to a certain extent, he could influence the world. He could use the Han Imperial Dynasty as a means to shake the entire Spirit Mountain Holy Land, and start thinking about how to fight the Spirit Mountain Holy Land.

With the Han Imperial Dynasty’s grudge against the Spirit Mountain Holy Land, only one could exist.

“Reporting to Your Reverence!” A guard’s voice came from outside the study.

This interrupted Gu Hai’s thoughts. “Huh?” He frowned as he looked out of the study.

“Mister Ensnaring Performance’s disciple, Zhengfa Ming, has come out of closed-door cultivation!” the guard reported respectfully.

“Oh?” Gu Hai’s eyes lit up.

Zhengfa Ming?

Gu Hai immediately walked out of the study and headed to a forest near the palace. Simultaneously, everyone who knew about Zhengfa Ming’s being targeted rushed over when they received the news.

“Your Reverence!” these people greeted respectfully when they met Gu Hai along the way.

“Gu Hai!”

Just then, a figure blocked Gu Hai.

“Bodhisattva Lian Sheng?” Gu Hai frowned.

“Gu Hai, what do you mean by that day? Do you not believe me? Or do you not care about Gu Han’s life or death?” Bodhisattva Lian Sheng said anxiously.

The faces of Gu Qin and the Unborn Man sank. When Gu Hai brought the two to meet Bodhisattva Lian Sheng that day, they could not verify if it was really him. They had placated him, but he unexpectedly and relentlessly waited outside the palace.

“Bodhisattva Lian Sheng? Alright, come with us.” Gu Hai nodded.

“Father!” Gu Qin’s expression changed.

This Bodhisattva Lian Sheng’s identity is still in doubt. How can you bring him to meet Zhengfa Ming?

Gu Hai shook his head. “Only Bodhisattva Lian Sheng himself would care so much for my son Gu Han. With such an obsession, I believe he is the real Bodhisattva Lian Sheng.”

“Oh?” Gu Qin and the Unborn Man appeared surprised, but they no longer opposed Gu Hai.

“What? You previously thought I was a fake?” Bodhisattva Lian Sheng’s expression changed, betraying incredible fury.

However, Gu Hai bowed slightly. “Bodhisattva Lian Sheng, I’m extremely sorry for the previous misunderstanding. However, this involves my son’s safety, so I did not dare to be careless.”

“Oh?” Bodhisattva Lian Sheng frowned slightly.

“That day, you said a few disciples betrayed Nalanda Temple. Jiang Gautama barged into Nalanda Temple and captured my son Gu Han. I believe those disciples were impersonators sent by the Spirit Mountain Holy Land,” Gu Hai explained.

“That’s impossible. Impersonators? They are—” Bodhisattva Lian Sheng immediately shook his head.

“They are the good Gautama’s fervent believers, so how could they betray him? Have you heard of divine blood replication?” Gu Hai asked.

“Divine blood replication?” Bodhisattva Lian Sheng’s pupils suddenly constricted.

“Gu Han is the good Gautama’s reincarnation, sharing a life with Jiang Gautama, so I am not worried that he will die. Don’t worry. I will deal with the Spirit Mountain Holy Land after dealing with the matters on hand. At that time, I will need Bodhisattva Lian Sheng’s assistance to rescue Gu Han,” Gu Hai said gravely.

Bodhisattva Lian Sheng’s expression changed a few times. Eventually, he sighed and bowed deeply to Gu Hai. “Many thanks, Imperial Emperor Gu!”

“You show such concern for my son. The grateful one should be me. Bodhisattva Lian Sheng, Nalanda Temple has a long history stretching back to ancient times. You have countless records of the Dao Devouring Physique, right? Come, follow me and meet Zhengfa Ming,” Gu Hai said seriously.

“Zhengfa Ming?” This startled Bodhisattva Lian Sheng slightly.

“You will know when you arrive. This way, please.” Gu Hai gestured in invitation.

Bodhisattva Lian Sheng nodded.