Ze Tian Ji (Way of Choices)

Chapter 933 – One Temple Rules the World—Xining?

Tang Thirty-Six looked into Chen Changsheng’s eyes and asked with great solemnity, “You trust your teacher?”

Chen Changsheng replied, “Master’s intelligence is unparalleled and his insight sharp. Not even Black Robe can conceal everything in the heavens. I trust that Master’s judgment is correct.”

Tang Thirty-Six said, “You know that’s not what I mean.”

Chen Changsheng silently thought, then said, “To Master, killing me and subduing the Orthodoxy is the most important matter, but exterminating the Demon race and uniting the continent under the Human race is his lifelong desire, the ideal that he will pursue until the end of his days. I have absolute confidence in this.”

In the history of the continent, the most momentous change was the alliance between the humans and demi-humans.

It was on this foundation that Emperor Taizong was able to successfully lead the allied armies north and force the demons back to the blizzard-ridden wastes.

In the ensuing several hundred years, the Human race gained enough time to recover and grew stronger and stronger, until eventually, the Demon race found it far more difficult to sweep into the south once more.

If the demi-humans suddenly broke their pact with the humans and changed sides, what would happen?

Shang Xingzhou and Chen Changsheng did not have a conflict of ideals, but a conflict of Daos.

Chen Changsheng was the only flaw in Shang Xingzhou’s Dao, so Shang Xingzhou had to think of a way to wipe out his existence.

But this was nothing compared to this matter.

It was just like Shang Xingzhou said in his letter.

White Emperor City could not be lost.

Tang Thirty-Six revealed an extremely rare earnestness as he said, “Then we must stop this from happening.”

Fortunately, this was only speculation and had not yet come true.

The humans still had time to react.

If not for Shang Xingzhou and his extremely sharp senses perceiving these problems and making this bold and forceful conclusion, the result would have been disastrous.

When he thought of this, Tang Thirty-Six felt an irrepressible respect towards the venerable Daoist, even though they were on different sides.

Chen Changsheng walked to the window and raised the Stainless Sword. Though he used the Intellectual Sword to silently calculate for quite some time, he still failed to obtain an unambiguous answer.

“The demi-humans… will they really ally with the demons?”

In the history books, the relationship between the demi-humans and demons was full of bloodstains and the tragic circumstances of the demi-humans.

There was no logical reason for the demi-humans to forget these grudges, much less ally with the demons.

Hu Thirty-Two said, “In truth, it’s not completely impossible. Don’t forget, a thousand years ago, the relationship between the humans and demi-humans was also terrible. If the demons are willing to pay the appropriate price to pacify the hatred of the demi-humans, the demi-humans really might defect to their side.”

Tang Thirty-Six noted, “It’s a question of motive. If Madam Mu is taking these risks for the Great Western Continent, how can the ministers and generals of the Demi-human race just agree?”

Hu Thirty-Two’s gaze fell on the letter in Chen Changsheng’s hand, and he said, “Perhaps it’s precisely for this reason.”

Tang Thirty-Six followed his gaze but still didn’t understand.

“The demons have been in decline for one thousand years. Even with the accession of a new Demon Lord, it will be impossible for them to recover their terrifying strength in a short time. On the other hand, our Human race has been getting stronger and stronger in the last one thousand years. It’s just as the blue-clothed visitor on the summit ruefully sighed about: our side has far too many genius experts.”

Hu Thirty-Two looked at Chen Changsheng and seriously said, “Your Holiness said before that the esteemed Daoist has always wanted to inherit Emperor Taizong’s dying wish, exterminating the demons and uniting the world. When the time comes, where will the demi-humans go? Will they become subjects and offer tribute, or will it be like it was in ancient times, where they were slaves to the demons?”

Tang Thirty-Six said, “The current White Emperor is an overlord. Does he not even have a little confidence?”

Hu Thirty-Two fell quiet, then said, “In the last few years, a phrase has been going around the continent.”

Startled, Chen Changsheng asked, “What phrase?”

Hu Thirty-Two said, “A temple of Xining rules the world.”

Both Chen Changsheng and Tang Thirty-Six fell silent.

The meaning of this phrase was crystal-clear. It referred to the story of the last ten-some years and of this current period of history.

Then if one looked into the future, what would they see?

If Shang Xingzhou and Chen Changsheng made amends, then together with the emperor, the three would unite their strengths. Who on the continent could stand up to the Human race then?

Even the White Emperor would undoubtedly feel a fierce apprehension and unease when looking at this teacher and his two disciples from Xining Village’s temple.

It was fine if such a matter was impossible, but many people believed that the problems between Shang Xingzhou and Chen Changsheng should never have existed in the first place.

The White Emperor and other figures at his level might have even thought that the conflict between Shang Xingzhou and Chen Changsheng was a hoax created by the pair.

Chen Changsheng did not return Hu Thirty-Two’s gaze, instead choosing to look back at the letter.

Shang Xingzhou had written four words at the end: ‘Calmly observe these changes.’

Observation required his presence.

He said, “We should first take care of this matter.”

Hu Thirty-Two said, “That’s only to be expected. However, it’s not known when White Emperor City will convene the Heavenly Selection ceremony. Since the Li Palace is appearing, the Orthodoxy needs to quickly form a diplomatic mission.”

Chen Changsheng replied, “The date for the Heavenly Selection ceremony probably hasn’t been set, but the intent of White Emperor City is clear. Even if they can’t hide this matter forever, they wouldn’t want us to suddenly interfere, so they won’t give us a chance to make any plans. Thus, I will go ahead first while the diplomatic mission can hurry after me.”

Hu Thirty-Two acknowledged, “Understood.”

Tang Thirty-Six said, “I’ll return to Wenshui first.”

A great deal of the business with the demi-humans was under the purview of the Tang clan, and Wenshui City had always had an excellent relationship with White Emperor City.

This matter involved the future of humanity, so the Tang Old Master naturally wouldn’t remain uninvolved. He would most likely make the appropriate arrangements.

Chen Changsheng nodded. “I’ll go first.”

At this moment, the bright cry of a crane resounded in the skies above the estate.

The winter winds howled and the trees in the courtyard swayed as the White Crane landed.

The Prince of Louyang was at the faraway atrium of the building, kneeling to show respect as Chen Changsheng departed.

Tang Thirty-Six finally couldn’t help but ask, “Why did the venerable Daoist have His Highness come to deliver the letter?”

Chen Changsheng explained, “Last night, His Highness was spending the winter in Mount Xiao, which was closest to this place.”

Tang Thirty-Six thought to himself, this clearly isn’t logical.

If the Imperial Court wanted to send a message, they could use Red Falcons, Red Geese, or even arrays to send it straight to the Prince of Luling’s estate. There was no need to trouble the Prince of Louyang with this task.

Chen Changsheng knew that this reason had failed to convince him. After a moment’s thought, he said, “Master knows that I trust him more.”

Tang Thirty-Six was even more confused, wondering, why do you trust this prince famed for being a good-for-nothing?

Chen Changsheng mounted the crane and took flight, leaving no further explanation.

One man and one crane flew off into the distance, above the clouds.

The Tong River became the vague outline of a belt, the Luomei Mountains to the left and behind it like a miniature landscape.

In the far west were curling clouds and distant green mountains. He had no idea what was waiting for him there.

……

……

Green mountains protruded out of a sea of clouds, the clouds like the mist on the opposite shore of a lake or the smoke rising from the chimneys of the capital on a winter morning.

Luoluo sat on a mountain slope, gazing at the mists below, her petite body appearing somewhat fragile and delicate.

If one looked at her from the front, they would presumably get this feeling, as although her beautiful face seemed to be recollecting the past, it was still very serene.

Guardian Li watched her with pity in her eyes. In her view, the princess had been very lonely these past few years, and she was only getting lonelier.