Chapter 353: Four Sovereigns of the Upper Firmament (First Update!)
"Let him come up." The National Teacher of Diên Khang said indifferently.
Luan Địch Khả Hãn was bound with chains, tied up securely, with several soldiers following behind, pushing him forward.
"Your guilty subject Luan Địch..."
As Luan Địch Khả Hãn was about to kneel in prostration, the National Teacher of Diên Khang's expression shifted slightly. He reached out to support him, saying with a half-smile: "Is Senior Brother Luan Địch trying to make me unfaithful and unjust?"
Luan Địch Khả Hãn took the opportunity to rise, laughing: "If I could damage the bond between you and Emperor Diên Phong, I would still have a chance to make a comeback."
The National Teacher of Diên Khang shook his head: "You cannot damage it. Even if you kneel before the entire army to pay respects to me, the Emperor would not suspect me. It's just those incorruptible ministers who give me a headache. The fewer troubles, the better. Senior Brother Luan Địch, remove those chains. I do not accept your surrender. When we return to the capital, you can bind yourself and plead for surrender before the Emperor."
Luan Địch Khả Hãn's body trembled slightly, and the chains on him snapped inch by inch, falling to the ground in pieces. Many of the soldiers were startled and stepped forward, but the National Teacher of Diên Khang raised his hand to make them retreat, saying: "No need for such caution."
Luan Địch Khả Hãn's gaze flickered: "I heard that the National Teacher fought with the gods and was severely wounded. Even with the Little Poison King and the Little Divine Physician treating your injuries, your cultivation has not yet recovered to its peak state. Are you not afraid that I might suddenly attack and kill you, National Teacher?"
"Not afraid."
The National Teacher of Diên Khang said: "A month ago, I would have been afraid. But now I have comprehended the way of the sword. Although my injuries remain, I no longer need to be afraid. If you strike, you die."
Luan Địch Khả Hãn was shaken with fear.
The National Teacher of Diên Khang raised his head to look at the Lâu Lan Golden Palace ahead, saying leisurely: "Senior Brother Luan Địch, please look. The Lâu Lan Golden Palace is as solid as gold and iron. The Great Shaman and the Shaman King have strict defenses. It is easy to defend and difficult to attack. If we were to launch a forceful assault, our army would surely suffer heavy casualties. I can also sense streams of terrifying auras hidden within the palace, which should be the previous incarnations of the Great Venerable. I sense eighteen terrifying presences like gods, so I have stationed the troops here and have not yet moved."
Luan Địch Khả Hãn said: "These eighteen bodies, like gods, demons, and Buddhas, are the eighteen incarnations of the Great Venerable. They are extremely terrifying and are also the strongest force guarding the Lâu Lan Golden Palace. Besides the Great Venerable's eighteen incarnations, there are also twelve Cult Leader-level existences who have cultivated to the realm of communicating with the divine. The strongest among them is the Shaman Venerable. This person's strength is not inferior to mine."
The National Teacher of Diên Khang asked: "How many experts at the Heavenly Human Realm and Life-Death Realm are there?"
Luan Địch Khả Hãn laughed: "How would I know?"
"You imitated Emperor Diên Phong, so you should know."
The National Teacher of Diên Khang glanced at him and said softly: "For example, I have fully grasped the names, abilities, and spiritual weapons of the experts of the Heavenly Sage Sect, the Dao Gate, and the Great Thunderclap Temple. Above the nation, holy lands are not allowed to throw their weight around. You are the Emperor of the grasslands, so naturally you would not allow the Lâu Lan Golden Palace to sit on your head. You must know clearly."
Luan Địch Khả Hãn praised: "The reason I cannot defeat Emperor Diên Phong is precisely because the National Teacher assists him. If I had a helper like the National Teacher, how could I be forced to surrender? I have already prepared a register of the Heavenly Human and Life-Death Realm experts in the Lâu Lan Golden Palace, and I offer it to the National Teacher." With that, he took out a register.
The National Teacher of Diên Khang handed the register to Duke Protector of the Nation behind him, saying: "Let the soldiers take a look, each find their opponent, and prepare to kill the enemy."
Duke Protector of the Nation summoned the famous generals of the Heavenly Human and Life-Death Realms in the army and gathered them to study the register.
The National Teacher of Diên Khang said: "The Golden Palace is protected by formations. The prohibitions and killing arrays set up by successive Great Venerables and Shaman Venerables are now fully activated to guard against our army. Since Khả Hãn Luan Địch has the intention to overthrow the Golden Palace, he must have a plan in mind and a method to break through the Golden Palace."
Luan Địch Khả Hãn did not answer, but instead asked: "Why does the National Teacher not ask me why I surrendered? The National Teacher saw me come to surrender and trusted me so readily, without any precaution, even asking me for the method to break the Golden Palace. Are you not afraid that I am feigning surrender, providing false intelligence to make your entire army perish?"
The National Teacher of Diên Khang shook his head: "You surrendered because of the witch poison."
Luan Địch Khả Hãn fell silent.
"The Great Venerable ordered the Great Shaman and the Shaman King to spread witch poison. Nine out of ten households on the grasslands were emptied. The tribespeople of the grasslands died until only one-tenth remained. Only the residents of a few great cities on your grasslands survived."
The National Teacher of Diên Khang said: "You are the Emperor of the grasslands. Your people have been killed in such numbers. Who do you seek revenge against? It can only be the Lâu Lan Golden Palace. So I trust you, no need to suspect you."
Luan Địch Khả Hãn was silent for a long while, then finally let out a turbid breath and said: "When two nations go to war, they do not kill the people. If I were to attack the nation of Diên Khang, the people on the land of Diên Khang would all be my subjects, and I would not harm them. If Emperor Diên Phong were to attack the grasslands, the herders on the grasslands would be Emperor Diên Phong's subjects, and he would not harm them. But the Lâu Lan Golden Palace exterminated my people. I cannot tolerate that. National Teacher, I will tell you all the weaknesses of the Golden Palace without any concealment."
The National Teacher of Diên Khang revealed a smile: "Do you know how long I have been waiting here for you to come? Today you have come, and the world will have one fewer holy land!"
Luan Địch Khả Hãn was completely convinced: "As long as the National Teacher holds office for one day, Luan Địch will not rebel for one day! If I violate this oath, may my eyes be pecked out by gyrfalcons, may my heart be dug out by eagles! May my sons and grandsons, for generations, be slaves and maidservants!"
In the capital, the place where nine dragons converge, nine dragon-like mountain ranges gather, converging the dragon qi of nine dragons. This is the imperial capital.
"This time descending to the mortal world, seeing the National Teacher of Diên Khang conquering the grasslands, I realize that the army of Diên Khang is increasingly taking on the bearing of a heavenly army, more and more like the divine-demon army of the Khai Hoàng period."
Above the capital, a reed shed about one acre in size hung in the air. On the clouds beneath the shed, several men and women of extraordinary bearing sat on the cloud tops, with the reed shed shading them from the sun as they looked down to examine the fortune of the nation of Diên Khang.
These men and women were all quite handsome and beautiful, and their ages seemed not to be great, yet their cultivation levels were frighteningly high, bearing the appearance of gods and Buddhas.
Among them was Kiều Tinh Quân, with four maidservants like Ngọc Liễu waiting at his side. Hư Sinh Hoa was also there, but standing beside another young man. This young man was his master, Ngọc Quân.
This time, not only they came. The Upper Firmament had four leaders. Besides Kiều Tinh Quân and Ngọc Quân, there were also Hoa Quân and Ngôn Tinh Quân.
Because of the matter of the Village Chief leaving the Great Ruins, all four leaders of the Upper Firmament had actually arrived.
The four looked downward and all revealed expressions of shock.
"The last time I came down to send down calamities, I did not look carefully."
Ngọc Quân said thoughtfully: "At that time, I only roughly saw the nine dragon veins of the capital, and did not see the other dragon veins, which nearly allowed the nation of Diên Khang to become a major force."
Hoa Quân was a beautiful young woman, her voice as crisp and pleasant as an oriole's, saying: "These nine dragon veins are the Yellow Dragon Mountain Range. Besides these nine dragon veins, there are also four river dragon water veins: Đồ Giang, Kim Giang, Dũng Giang, and Lệ Giang."
She lightly drew her palm, and primordial qi transformed into a mirror in the air, shining down toward the underground of the nation of Diên Khang.
That mirror could actually penetrate more than ten li deep into the earth, and in the mirror could be seen three great dragons—those were underground magma rivers.
Hoa Quân said: "Adding these three fire dragon veins hidden underground, the dragon veins within the territory of Diên Khang already number sixteen."
Ngôn Tinh Quân shook his head: "Not only that. Look at the coastline of Diên Khang. The coastal mountain ranges rise and fall irregularly, like twin dragons with twin tails coiled together—that is another two dragon veins. I wonder what mountain that is where the dragons coil their tails. Eighteen dragon veins, no wonder Diên Khang produces outstanding talents and rises rapidly."
Kiều Tinh Quân said in a deep voice: "The grasslands being annexed into Diên Khang is a matter of time. This time, the National Teacher of Diên Khang has attacked the grasslands. Calculating the time, he should already be at the Lâu Lan Golden Palace. How many dragon veins are on the grasslands?"
The other three sovereigns' hearts trembled slightly.
"And the snow plains of the bitter cold north, the country of Lang Cư Tư. How many dragon veins are there?"
Kiều Tinh Quân said: "The number of dragon veins in Diên Khang has already exceeded our expectations. If it were a single dragon vein, that would be one thing—hard to form a major force. But when a group of dragons ascends to heaven, this means they are about to seize the fortune of heaven and earth! I think that killing the old Human Emperor is a minor matter. Finding the main dragon vein of Diên Khang, taking it away or diverting it, leaving the dragons without a leader—that is what we should do when descending to the mortal world."
Ngọc Quân pondered, saying: "Without the main dragon vein, the dragons have no leader, fortune splits apart, heroes rise across the land, and Diên Khang is divided. Indeed, that is a good idea. Which dragon vein is the main vein of the nation of Diên Khang?"
The four all looked down, searching for a long while, but still could not discern the main vein.
"Let us invite the Dragon Tamer Lord of the Upper Firmament to come and find the main vein. He raises dragonkind, can distinguish all kinds of dragons clearly, and is also skilled at drawing charts and calculating geography."
Kiều Tinh Quân said: "Thanh Oanh, Dao Hoa, return to the Upper Firmament and have the Dragon Tamer Lord descend to the mortal world. Ask him to survey the dragon veins of Diên Khang and determine the main vein."
The two women Thanh Oanh and Dao Hoa acknowledged the order and hurriedly left.
Ngọc Quân laughed: "The Sword God has still not appeared. How disappointing. I thought that when we released our auras, he would rush over to accept the challenge, but unexpectedly he has turned cowardly. In the past, he would not have been cowardly. It seems the Sword God is truly old."
"This is the tragedy of the mortal body."
Hoa Quân laughed: "No matter how strong one is in the prime of life, when old age comes, one's qi and blood must wither and decline. Once qi and blood decline, the heart also declines. Calculating the years, his death is due in the next year or two. To live for those two years, he has avoided battle. How ironic. Hư Sinh Hoa, have you found the new Human Emperor?"
Hư Sinh Hoa said: "This disciple happened to encounter that person, but did not recognize him and missed the opportunity. However, I gifted him a packet of tea, and he invited me to drink wine in the capital of Diên Khang. I imagine I can see him again when I go to the capital."
Ngọc Quân asked with interest: "How capable is this new Human Emperor?"
"Very high."
Hư Sinh Hoa recalled the moment he clashed with Tần Mục, saying: "At that time, his dharma power was extremely profound. His primordial qi cultivation was one point deeper than mine, but his techniques and divine abilities were one point inferior to mine, and his comprehension of divine abilities was worse than mine."
"His cultivation is even deeper than yours?"
The Four Sovereigns of the Upper Firmament all revealed surprised expressions. Hư Sinh Hoa's cultivation at the same realm crushed the Upper Firmament—even the four sovereigns' cultivation at the same realm was not as good as his. How could there be someone in this world whose cultivation surpassed his?
"However, after I returned from the Lesser Ngọc Kinh, I made up for the shortcomings in my cultivation."
Hư Sinh Hoa said: "If he has not had the same fortune, then my cultivation is now only stronger than his."
Ngọc Quân revealed a smile, laughing: "Go to the capital, kill him, and return to the Upper Firmament early. This mortal world is a filthy place, not suitable for a long stay. The few of us will find a good spot to wait for the Dragon Tamer Lord and examine the main vein of the dragon veins. If the Sword God dares to accept the challenge, that is naturally good. If he does not accept, after taking the main vein, we will return to the mountain."
Hư Sinh Hoa acknowledged the order.
Kiều Tinh Quân said: "I will have Kinh Yến and Ngọc Liễu follow you, so that petty villains do not make a move against you."
Ngọc Liễu and Kinh Yến were secretly delighted. Ngọc Liễu held a jade vase, and Kinh Yến embraced a pipa, following Hư Sinh Hoa toward the capital.
The Four Sovereigns of the Upper Firmament saw that it was getting late, so they descended from the clouds and came to a quiet place, where the reed shed landed.
Here the mountains were clear and the waters beautiful, with no village ahead and no inn behind. But across from them was a house, and the door opened, revealing a woman of dazzling beauty, carrying a small wooden bucket to fetch water. The Four Sovereigns of the Upper Firmament all blushed, their hearts pounding violently.
Even Hoa Quân, beautiful as she was—the most gorgeous goddess in the Upper Firmament—felt ashamed of her own appearance, yet at the same time her heart was moved and captivated by this woman.
"Truly a beauty that even gods envy and adore!"
The four sovereigns steadied their minds. The woman looked at the suddenly appearing reed shed, then at them, and greeted the four, saying: "Four honored guests, it is getting late. Do not go out at night."
Ngọc Quân felt love stirring in his heart and laughed: "Immortal maiden, this is not the Great Ruins. Why can we not go out at night? Even in the Great Ruins, we can go out as we please."
Ngôn Tinh Quân and Kiều Tinh Quân also felt love stirring and wished to grow close to this woman, laughing: "A beautiful scene and a fine time, with a beauty as our neighbor—this is truly a holy land."
Hoa Quân felt some bitterness and jealousy in her heart, but upon seeing this woman's beauty, her jealousy vanished without a trace.
The woman revealed a surprised expression, saying: "So all four of you are figures like immortals, able to come and go in the Great Ruins in the darkness. I was overthinking." With that, she went to fetch water.
When night fell, the three sovereigns of the Upper Firmament craned their necks to look toward the house across the way. Hoa Quân also felt some anticipation, laughing: "Since your hearts are stirred, why not invite her over to sit for a while?"
Just as she spoke, suddenly the door of the house across the way opened, and a laughter that made one's blood boil and pulse race came from within: "Four honored guests have come from afar. As the mistress of this place, this humble woman has come late to greet you."
The Four Sovereigns of the Upper Firmament looked through the hazy moonlight, and all sighed in their hearts: "Truly a peerless beauty that would make even immortals fall!"