Chapter 2163: A Chess Game Ultimately

In the 114th year of Dao Li, Hong Jun Yan was struck and broken by Jing Tai Zu, Tang Yu's, Dao Qu. After escaping back to the country, he falsely claimed Dao solution and died, taking the opportunity to hibernate and open the plan for future hegemony.

In the 119th year of Dao Li, Ying Yun Nian used the "present" aspect of the Three Lives Lan Yin flower to create Ning Dao Ru, setting up his plan for transcendence. Then, in the following year, he abdicated.

At this moment, history is so clear.

History books are annotated by reality.

Jiang Wang felt as if he saw the yellow scrolls of the years quickly turning under a green lamp. The rolling river of time was filled with the songs of heroes.

This is the charm of studying history. Clarifying the true facts of history, engraving the real history, and making the glory of history endure for ten thousand generations without fading – this is the Great Dao.

At this time, revisiting "Shi Dao Zao Hai," he only felt every word was heavy, with deep and profound meaning, as if he could see the years' engraving knife.

Related to the two powerhouses of the Three Lives Lan Yin flower, Chai and Ying Yun Nian, both are world-class heroes whose names are recorded in the annals of history. Their struggles are recorded in the history books of both the human and demon races.

As the only one who simultaneously witnessed the transcendence paths of both Chai and Ying Yun Nian, Jiang Wang's feelings were particularly profound.

The two each held half of the "present flower," and both pushed "present" to extreme sublimation.

Chai at that time was only one step away – as long as he swallowed the Three Lives Lan Yin flower nurtured by borrowing Spider Lan Ruo, he could truly transcend.

Ying Yun Nian and Chai's strength in that year should have been on par. This is also evident from the result of their struggle for the Three Lives Lan Yin flower; each seized half of it.

Both of them used the Three Lives Lan Yin flower as provisions on the path to transcendence, but their specific methods differed.

Jiang Wang could not judge who was superior.

But Ying Yun Nian's "present" of the Three Lives Lan Yin flower had only six petals in total; one petal preserved Xie Ai, and one petal accomplished Ning Dao Ru. What did he lack, and how would he make up for it?

Or, perhaps, it was already enough?

At this time, he gripped the flower and consumed it, talking and laughing, as if he was not about to step onto the path of transcendence, but merely strolling calmly in his own garden.

Among all the scenes of attempting transcendence that Jiang Wang had witnessed, the image related to Ying Yun Nian was the most peaceful, just like on an ordinary afternoon when he said he wanted to go on a distant journey and then pushed open the door. Everything was so natural.

Hong Jun Yan was silent for a moment, then opened his mouth and said:"Before you walk towards transcendence, is there nothing to handle?"

Fu Huan, Wei Qing Peng, Meng Ling Xiao, and Guan Dao Quan all looked over silently.

In front of a powerhouse on the verge of transcendence, the already unfolding grand plan for Snow Country suddenly became very thin. The grand plan for future hegemony seemed already far out of reach.

Initially, people would be curious as to why, when Qin Country schemed against Snow Country, only Xu Wang and Wang Xi Xu came. They seemed insufficient.

But after Ying Yun Nian appeared, the question became, what did Xu Wang and Wang Xi Xu come for? They seemed unnecessary.

Ning Dao Ru, by borrowing falsehood to become real, could accomplish this. As for whether others came or not, what difference did it make?

Ying Yun Nian thought for a moment, then said:"Indeed, there is one thing."

Hong Jun Yan quietly looked at Ying Yun Nian, preparing to unleash his own power. He also wanted to see the peak of his own strength and exactly how large the gap was between himself and a person touching transcendence.

The so-called "old friends meeting" was, of course, only a warm illusion.

They were opponents in that year. Which of those founding monarchs, when establishing their countries, did not have grand ambitions, wanting to sweep everything and become the Son of Heaven of the Six Harmonies? Ying Yun Nian, now so gentle and soft, should not forget how cold and hard the style of the Qin Country he single-handedly established was.

But all those dazzling figures from those years failed.

The heroes who stood in front, the standing heroes, were always just one step short.

And many years later, only Hong Jun Yan himself remained, and one who abdicated to walk the path of transcendence, coming here to contend.

This battle...

"Zhen Hou," Ying Yun Nian said, "Bring out the state document."

Hong Jun Yan's heart was full of heroic aspirations, which stopped for a moment. That pair of calm and majestic eyes for the first time held pure doubt.

What? Everyone is standing here face to face, before fighting, do we still need to issue a state document first?

Xu Wang took out a roll of black-bound state document and presented it with both hands:"Respectfully presented to Tai Zu!"

This roll of state document, flowing with karma, appeared in Ying Yun Nian's palm. He held it with one hand, then changed to both hands, and presented it to Hong Jun Yan:"I, this abdicated person, today represent the former Great Qin, to sign the Great Wall agreement with you. Qin and Snow, our two countries, will jointly build the Great Wall and jointly eliminate the Shura disaster. What is your intention?"

What intention?

For Snow Country, this is simply a pie falling from the sky!

So sweet that it's completely unbelievable.

Fu Huan had said such words, saying Snow Country was willing to help build the Great Wall – that was the most beautiful imagination. Without a great country, how can one bear such a heavy responsibility? How could Qin Country allow Snow Country to share in the Great Wall, such a national heavy weapon?

But the state document would not be fake, and Ying Yun Nian's words on this occasion could not possibly be deceitful.

Hong Jun Yan did not immediately take the state document, but asked:"Why?"

He had been cautious all his life, so cautious that he was laughed at for being unable to leave the snow plain for a lifetime, pinning his hopes only on the future. But caution was fundamental to his ability to navigate the chaotic world where many heroes contended and still be able to attempt hegemony today. He forever believed in himself and Fu Huan more than he believed in anyone else.

"I have said, I am very willing to fulfill your plan for future hegemony. I very much appreciate this plan; a person without great wisdom and great courage could not draw such a grand map." Ying Yun Nian said with a smile, "You fulfill me, and I also fulfill you, nothing more than that."

"My so-called fulfillment, although it steps into your design, its root is still your own effort. While your fulfillment, however, is a real splitting of interests, giving away authority and responsibility."

"In my view, this is no different."

Hong Jun Yan looked at Ying Yun Nian for a while, then finally tugged at the corner of his mouth:"Brother Ying, you make me feel very strange now. It's no longer the time when the world was one chessboard and so many of us plotted against each other!"

Ying Yun Nian spoke with a natural demeanor:"In the past, I was a monarch. Today, I am Ying Yun Nian."

Hong Jun Yan said:"I bear the responsibility of billions of people in the Snow Domain, and therefore dare not only treat Brother Ying as Yun Nian."

Ying Yun Nian laughed heartily:"Actually, my appreciation is the fundamental reason; the rest are just side issues. But if you must have some grand principles—"

He restrained his smile and said quite seriously:"Your plan for future hegemony, the timing of its activation, should be when the world is more chaotic, and all strong people are more weary, which would be more appropriate. Right now there is a perfect moment; the demon race's Yu Zhen has opened the Shen Xiao world, and the counterattack of all heavens and myriad worlds against the present world is imminent. If you wait until after the war, when all sides are weary, and then return, you should be able to greatly increase your chances of winning. But you still choose to return before the Shen Lei war begins. I think you also want to contribute to the human race."

Hong Jun Yan said as a matter of course:"To become the Son of Heaven of the Six Harmonies, how can one only be concerned with personal gain? I desire to rule the world, of course I need to bear the responsibility of the world! Furthermore, if the Shen Xiao war is lost, what is there left for me to contend for? Returning would just be bringing more people to flee; it's better not to wake up."

Ying Yun Nian presented the Great Qin state document forward:"This is precisely the reason I make an agreement with you. How to contend in the future is a matter for the future. Right now, the most important thing is for our two countries to join hands, build the Yu Yuan Great Wall, and forever eliminate the Shura disaster. At its root, it is still preparation for the Shen Xiao war."

Hong Jun Yan then took the state document and reviewed it seriously.

In the state document, every matter concerning the Yu Yuan Great Wall was clear and explicit, without any hidden meaning.

The rights and responsibilities of the Qin and Snow countries regarding the Great Wall were also fair and equal.

Of course, the Qin Great Wall would be far longer than the Snow Great Wall... but this was also as it should be. The national strength of the two sides was such that one could not call Qin Country overly accommodating.

After reading the state document, Hong Jun Yan sighed deeply:"Brother Ying's breadth of mind, I am not as good as you!"

"Not so," Ying Yun Nian said. "It's just that Brother Hong is a monarch, and I have abdicated. Our thoughts and considerations are already different."

Hong Jun Yan said with genuine feeling:"I scheme for the ten thousand generations of Snow Country, and elder brother schemes for the ten thousand generations of the human race. The gap between me and elder brother is precisely the gap between Snow Country and the present world."

Ying Yun Nian laughed:"Then Snow Country may not necessarily be unable to become the present world. This foolish elder brother wishes you success."

On the empty Lei Sea, Xu Wang was expressionless, and Wang Xi Xu's breathing was calm.

For one's own Tai Zu to wish for others to unify the world, this feeling was truly novel.

Hong Jun Yan spread the state document in the air, raised his hand, summoned a side of the Son of Heaven seal, and stamped it heavily:"Immediately conclude this agreement, and let us build the Great Wall together! Qin Li for good also!"

"Li?"

"It's good to let elder brother know, Snow Country and the Northwest Five Countries will merge. The new country name will be this. The long night is over, and dawn is about to break, hence it is called 'Li'."

"Good name!" Ying Yun Nian praised. "The greatness of a country lies in its common people!"

After listening, Hong Jun Yan became solemn, received the state document, returned it to Ying Yun Nian, and bowed:"Elder brother's teachings, I must not forget!"

"What teachings are these?" Ying Yun Nian smiled, took the state document bearing the seals of the two countries' Sons of Heaven, pushed it back into Xu Wang's hand, and said again, "The path of the Son of Heaven of the Six Harmonies, I ultimately could not walk through. But what consoles me is that Ji Yu Su, Gu Yan Qiu, and the others also all failed. One's own failure is naturally difficult, but others' success makes one even more jealous, ah."

Hong Jun Yan said, half-truth, half-false:"I am just jealous now."

"You are still on the road... Now I walk a new path and greatly look forward to the world being unified. I want to see what kind of real appearance my initial unachieved ideal will take—" Ying Yun Nian imagined for a moment, quite seriously: "Represent us old fellows who were active in the new Dao Li year, go and fight with those ambitious kings of today, you must let them know how we contended in that year."

Hong Jun Yan said:"If I finally win, I will say so. If I cannot succeed, I will represent no one and not let you lose face. If some later generation chops off my head, I will tell him that I was an evader of the peak of the new Dao Li year, unable to represent the pinnacle of that era."

Ying Yun Nian laughed heartily.

Hong Jun Yan also laughed.

The laughter of the two founding ancestors echoed in the snow plain.

Everyone watching was also listening.

This is the wantonness of the predecessors, the names in the history books, still alive in the world.

Xu Wang, who caught the state document, said at this time:"Tai Zu, may I report, our army has withdrawn from Lin Dong City, released the captive generals, and is resting at the pass... According to the latest intelligence, Jing Country's three armies, Bao Ri, Long Wu, and Ying Yang Guard, have stopped roaming. I think they should have known of your existence."

The Bao Ri Army is the front protection army of Jing Country's six protection armies. This is also the Son of Heaven's personal army, with True Person Wei Liao as the vice commander, acting on behalf of the Son of Heaven to command.

The Long Wu Army is the lower protection army of Jing Country's six protection armies. The Long Wu great commander, Zhong Jing, is precisely the one who fought against the Winter Emperor.

The Ying Yang Guard belongs to one of the seven guards. The Ying Yang Guard great general, Zhong Shan Yan Wen, is the establisher of the eight thousand li stele in the border wilderness.

For such three armies to roam outside the pass is certainly not just a suburban tour.

For such three carriages to roam outside the seven heavens, it is certainly not just a suburban tour for idle talk.

Xu Wang's report brought everyone back to reality. This was not history. In history books, the magnificent waves that make people sigh are in reality tides that sweep everything. The absolute majority of people can only drown in it, unable to even make a ripple.

Ying Yun Nian said to Hong Jun Yan:"In truth, this time the Ge Lu Army and Gan Ge Army came, not to attack Snow, but to defend Jing. A dragon and a tiger rising beside the bed, Jing Country's Son of Heaven is very difficult to tolerate, this is also understandable – but we need to make him calm down a little. After all, the opening of the Shen Xiao world is imminent, and the human race should not consume itself internally if it can avoid it."

The news of Jing Country's military movements reached the Qin Country people earlier than the Li Country people. This is also a manifestation of the gap in national strength between the two sides.

Hong Jun Yan sighed:"Elder brother's painstaking efforts."

Fu Huan, who was always standing at the top of Yong Shi Sheng Dong Peak, also opened his mouth at this time:"Ancestral Emperor Majesty, according to the latest intelligence, Chu Country's Li Hun and Shen Zui armies have stopped outside the river valley. I think they are probably sacrificing the heroic spirits."

Chu has six armies, displaying their might in the world. Li Hun and Shen Zui are precisely two of the six armies; the former is the imperial family's personal army, and the latter is almost the Dou clan's private army.

They stop to sacrifice heroic spirits, and advance with knives and axes knocking on the pass.

Everyone is familiar with this set of moves, and no one would not understand it.

Fu Huan said that he had not been idle in these years, and indeed he had not. He had not only stabilized Snow Country's national power but also promoted the alliance and merger of the Northwest Five Countries.

Ying Yun Nian said meaningfully:"It seems everyone needs to calm down."

Hong Jun Yan said sincerely:"Everything for the overall situation of the human race, for preparing for the Shen Xiao war. If the skin does not exist, how can the hair attach? This is the greatest sobriety."

"Yes, ah." Ying Yun Nian's gaze pierced through the sky, as if he had already crossed the vast universe, looking at that world where all things compete: "I hope my old opponents do not disappoint me at that time."

Hong Jun Yan said:"Speaking of which, elder brother perfects all, only offended the Jing people..."

"Ultimately, the world is one chessboard. This gain, that loss, is unavoidable." Ying Yun Nian only smiled: "In the end, Tang Yu is already dead, otherwise, with his temperament, he would certainly come to me at night to argue."

Saying this, he waved his hand, as if bidding farewell to an old friend.

He lifted his foot and walked towards a higher place.

His steps were so casual, as if he were walking in his courtyard... heaven and earth were his home.

"Please... wait a moment!" From beginning to end, Jiang Ge Yuan, who had been very cautious and tried to avoid getting involved with any side, opened his mouth at this moment.

Ying Yun Nian looked over with slight doubt.

This was a terrifying existence stepping towards transcendence. Although he behaved so gently, no one could ignore the pressure he brought.

Jiang Wang cupped his hands:"Senior's heart embraces the world, thinking of the human race for ten thousand generations. Junior admires you endlessly. However, junior has one thing unclear—"

Ying Yun Nian neither affirmed nor denied:"Speak and I will listen."

"Did Ning Dao Ru, using the Winter Emperor's body, guide Long Men Book Academy's Zhao Wu Yan onto a path she could not control? Was this under your instruction?"

Jiang Wang chose his words carefully. His identity as Tai Xu Ge Yuan could guarantee his safety in the vast majority of situations. But Ying Yun Nian was absolutely qualified to be an exception.

"I mean, before borrowing the false to become real, Ning Dao Ru's every action and personality served only his goal. This is the truth you informed us. Then, when he was still the Winter Emperor, junior truly cannot think what necessity he had to guide Zhao Wu Yan's path. At that time, she was just an Outer Building realm cultivator and unrelated to Jing, Xue, or Qin..."

Ying Yun Nian quietly looked at him, then suddenly laughed:"I see you are cautious and careful, very mature. How dare you ask this?"

"I am a person who can restrain curiosity. When my ability is insufficient, I am also willing to ignore the truth." Jiang Wang bowed deeply: "But my close friend is now still struggling in the disaster. He very much wants to find a path to save his loved one, but actually does not know where the path is. I wish senior would take pity and give a slight pointer."

"Ask the world what is love!" Ying Yun Nian sighed, then nodded again: "You are very smart, and you are not wrong. The Winter Emperor's contact with that little girl named Zhao Wu Yan was under my instruction. Why did I do so? Originally, you would all know the reason not long from now. But since you have asked now, then I will tell you all now—"

Saying this, he also glanced at Zhong Xuan:"The history pen is here, and can also record a line."