Chapter 2274: Ancient Relics Past and Present, Hard to Authenticate

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Standing at the two ends of Yue country's history, these two, Taizong Wen Zhong and the hidden prime minister Gao Zheng, truly are top-notch figures. Under the pressure of the hegemonic country, they also did all that could be done. Even if, in history, they were summoned back, they were able to immediately penetrate the truth, cut off the shackles, and in the most restricted state, seize a certain freedom. If they had not been born by the side of Chu country's bed, they both would inevitably have reached the absolute peak and even had the opportunity to explore higher places.

Ren Qiuli praised their talent and strategy, but also sighed that they were already dead. Mountains and rivers have no fixed form; the dead cannot contend with the living. Today's Yue country is not in the charge of either of them. The Yue country emperor's seal represents Yue country's highest authority. Yue country's current emperor is named "Wen Jingxiu"!

Ancient and modern years, mountains and rivers, all that belongs to Yue country must receive orders from the emperor. The already abdicated Yue Taizong, the already retired Yue country famous prime minister, are of course also no exception — if they still consider themselves people of Yue country. As the current Yue country emperor, Wen Jingxiu is able to add or reduce titles for his predecessors; this is how authority manifests itself.

Mirror Lake reflects Yue country's history; the "Time-Space Mirror River Heavenly Mechanism Array" stirs Yue country's time. So when Ren Qiuli at this moment scoops out the Yue country emperor's seal from the long river of history, willing or not, Wen Zhong and Gao Zheng must obey the monarch's order. They are no longer free. When they were alive, because they were born in Yue country, they were unable to be free. After they died, projected into the array from history, because their bodies were Yue people, they also did not obtain freedom. Even if their talent was the highest in the world, their strategy could break rivers and seas, they could only vainly cry out what to do. Regardless of life or death, they were controlled by one word: "country"!

Wen Zhong involuntarily began to walk forward. His power came from the great array, and now it was also driven by the array's law. But a smile hung on his face, and his tone was still calm: "The contemporary heavenly mechanism is truly not simple. It seems she also calculated that we could maintain a certain freedom, so she proactively brought out the Yue country emperor's seal."

Gao Zheng's footsteps moved almost simultaneously with Yue Taizong's. He said coldly: "After the death of the last successor of the fate occupation, Yu Beidou, Ren Qiuli is the most capable real person in contemporary calculation. It's not surprising she could calculate this."

"What's relatively rare is that the Yue country emperor's seal was actually lent to her," Wen Zhong shook his head. "To be able to lightly lend national authority to a South Dipper real person, it seems my later descendant has indeed reached the point of being desperately ill and seeking a doctor at random... he doesn't count as a very sage king."

Ren Qiuli used the power of Mirror Lake to reflect Yue country's history. In this process, she borrowed the Yue country emperor's seal. Her purpose for borrowing it, who she intended to command... was crystal clear. Wen Jingxiu couldn't possibly not think, but the power of the Yue country emperor's seal was still lent out.

For Wen Zhong, he didn't care how Wen Jingxiu used his power, his historical projection. What he cared about was that in cooperating with South Dipper Hall, Wen Jingxiu wasn't in the dominant position! South Dipper Hall was already destroyed, Changsheng Jun's life and death were unknown, Ren Qiuli and Lu Shuanghe had long been hiding only in Fallen Immortal Forest; they were homeless dogs! Yue country, however you look at it, still had rivers and mountains, its national destiny continued, it had many sides from which to borrow strength, many places where it could maneuver. If it were him, he wouldn't say he would completely consume and exploit the two South Dipper real persons, squeezing out their last bit of value, but at least he would make Ren Qiuli understand the hierarchy. How could he just hand over the chessboard? Where was the king's confidence?

Gao Zheng lightly exhaled, speaking for his student: "The monarch also had no other choice. For the past few decades, he did very well, enduring everything. His endurance wasn't inferior to past generations of wise kings. Now is the time he needs to display courage, and he is not stingy with bravery — he just didn't control the scale well, slightly overdoing it."

Wen Zhong hit the nail on the head: "If you were still here, he would have hope for the future. If you were gone, he would also fear. Either death or madness. Although this is a common human emotion, it is unbearable for a human monarch!"

Gao Zheng truly felt that Wen Jingxiu was good enough. He had given his teacher unconditional trust and support his entire life, without any reservations. He endured what should be endured, and bore what should be borne. He was willing to delegate power and was ruthless enough at heart. If he hadn't been burdened by being the monarch of Yue country, and in the post-Fallen Immortal Alliance period, he didn't have too many opportunities to perform, he had the potential to become a wise king. But the crown prince and great-grandson were indeed difficult to mold.

These troublesome words, he had no way of speaking to Taizong. He absolutely could not say, 'Please be more tolerant of Wen Jingxiu, your descendants are just like this, and it will only get worse later.'

Ren Qiuli's voice sounded again: "Two real persons! You are no longer chess players, so don't discuss the chess game anymore, and there's no need to point out rivers and mountains. The current chess player is Wen Jingxiu; he is your descendant, Wen Zhong, and your monarch, Gao Zheng. The game of chess has reached this point; can Yue country still turn back? Do your duty as chess pieces, and there might still be a slim chance of survival — kill the person in front of you, strive for Yue country!"

Her words were not polite, but each word and sentence had the support of the jade seal. In the long river of Yue country's history, this held the highest authority. Threefold True Fire became increasingly brilliant, and the time-space dark cocoon was already visibly much thinner to the naked eye. One could vaguely see Ren Qiuli's outline inside.

Jiang Wang silently gazed at this dark cocoon, holding his sword motionless. But his momentum was already tense, like a drawn bow, like a tiger raising its spine, just waiting until that fleeting key moment to deliver a fatal sword to Ren Qiuli. The moment the cocoon broke, they would decide life or death.

Ren Qiuli summoned out the Yue country emperor's seal, strengthening the command. Wen Zhong and Gao Zheng also involuntarily sped up their footsteps, traversing the time-space corridor, meeting at the room door —

Resistance was still occurring, otherwise they should all already be fighting with Jiang Wang by now.

"Whether Yue country can turn back, I don't want to be enemies with Jiang real person," Gao Zheng said coldly. "If it were me making the choice, between you and Jiang real person, ten thousand times I would choose one, and it would be impossible for me to support you. And Lu Shuanghe is no exception."

Ren Qiuli's voice held no anger. One could even vaguely see her outline inside the time-space dark cocoon shrugging her shoulders: "If it were me, I would also choose this way. On one side is a Taixu Pavilion elder, respected by the world; on the other side, a sect destroyed person in hiding, the sun setting in the west. Gao real person's words are somewhat ridiculous. Do you think Wen Jingxiu doesn't want to choose Jiang Wang? Bai Yuxia must avenge his father, Jiang Wang must protect Bai Yuxia — isn't there no possibility for you to have no choice? Or perhaps you already chose early. Bai Pingfu's cause has resulted in today's fruit. Isn't that right?"

If Gao Zheng were in charge of the chess game, Bai Yuxia would fundamentally not have returned. They would have waited until Ge Fei's truth spread, and the explanation for Bai Yuxia would have been prepared early. But Gao Zheng said nothing. He only needed to indicate his attitude to Jiang Wang, not defend himself. Let people speak about his foolish filial piety.

"I feel my will is changing. I slowly want to kill this young person named 'Jiang Wang'," Wen Zhong interpreted the change in his inner will and commented: "Very interesting experience!"

Gao Zheng walked into the room, his eyes momentarily melancholic: "At this time, I realize I am not a true person; I am already dead." All this was too real, projected from history, as if he were still alive. But if he were still alive, how could his will be changed? No one could influence him, and no array could control him!

The time-space corridor of Mirror Lake was originally narrow; the prison-like room was even only five steps square. When Wen Zhong and Gao Zheng also squeezed in, the "room" almost burst, embodying a sense of collapse! Four peak real persons, merely with their cognitive conflict, were enough to destroy the foundation of this room. The time-space heavenly chasm arranged here could infinitely stretch distance, but in front of Wen Zhong and Gao Zheng, it was all just a ditch they could cross in one step.

"Young person, you have to be careful," Wen Zhong said with a smile to Jiang Wang, although he was trapped in an involuntary state and showed no emotional venting. He was truly a wise person and would not make any useless resistance. "I will strike at you... I am very strong!"

Being able to truly stand as the backbone of Yue country, being able to single-handedly destroy Zhuge Yixian's Xuanxiao Star God after abdicating, Wen Zhong's strength was beyond doubt. Jiang Wang held his sword, accumulating momentum in front of the time-space dark cocoon, and also responded with a smile: "Although now is not a good time, I want to say — the world is separated by nothing more than life and death. It is my great regret to not be able to fight with two absolute top real persons. Heavenly Mechanism real person also calculated others' good. I am very willing to see the power of two heroes!"

At this moment, the situation seemed not much different from the beginning. After the appearance of the Yue country emperor's seal, he still had to face one against three. But the time-space heavenly chasm was no longer a barrier, the time-space dark cocoon was about to be burned through, and he, with the help of Wen Zhong and Gao Zheng, had gained a rich understanding of this Mirror Lake and this "Time-Space Mirror River Heavenly Mechanism Array." He saw a chance of survival.

Ren Qiuli's voice declared from the already paper-thin time-space dark cocoon, under the effect of the Yue country emperor's seal, grand as a drum, decreeing heavenly might: "Seize the time, quickly kill this villain! Do not give him the opportunity to impact the derivation path!"

Wen Zhong's figure swayed and he had already crossed the time-space heavenly chasm. He raised one palm high, and the lines in his palm suddenly came alive, as if mountains and rivers, the state of Yue country, were within it! It embodied both the thickness of history and the grandeur of the world. One palm pressed down like the sky tilting, and the eight directions of dragon qi stabilized the universe!

But before this, his voice was delivered first — "This palm of mine was created by me in that year. It takes the qi of Qiantang Jiao, plunders the intent of the East Sea Dragon, combines the momentum of Great Yue country, entwines the blood flags of a thousand armies, gathers the hearts of ten thousand people, thus forming this Jiangshan Dragon Seal. I want to take advantage of you being entangled with the time-space dark cocoon, first break your sword momentum, then cut off your divine intent, then change the Jiangshan Dragon Seal to the Wanli Jingshen Finger. This finger method was inspired after exchanging blows with Chu country's Wu family's Great Heavenly Absolute Finger. The key lies in the word 'fast'; a thought moves and shakes the gods, covering ten thousand li in an instant. Its essence is still to harm the primordial spirit."

He exposed the truth himself! In a fight between real persons, this was simply holding the sword backwards, giving the handle to the enemy. Especially since he was facing Jiang Wang. Knowing it means controlling it.

That palm interpreting mountains and rivers, with the momentum of the sky tilting, suddenly stopped. In the center of the palm, a red point appeared. The red point suddenly expanded and became a sword wound, as if in just a daze, a cold, bright sword blade already filled this wound. This was a line of sight cut off by a sharp sword. It completely disregarded the trajectory of the sword edge, leaving such an abrupt scene in the vision. Before changing the Jiangshan Dragon Seal to the Wanli Jingshen Finger, Wen Zhong's palm was already pierced.

Long Miss's sword body passed through the center of his palm, the sword tip tilted upward, piercing into his neck. Gurgle, gurgle. Fresh blood surged like a spring. Yue Taizong Wen Zhong lowered his head to look at this sword, grinning as he said: "Good sword technique!" This was accompanied by the gurgling of blood. These simple three words were the last sentence he left in this world. His majestic figure, wearing a coronet robe, was like a burned-out paper cut-out. Without wind, it turned to ashes.

He once presented memorials to the Chu emperor, he once wept by the Qiantang River. He had no three palaces and six courtyards, yet his footprints covered every inch of Yue country's mountains and rivers. He was the best monarch in this period since Yue country was established. He was also swept away by time. At least in the face of death, he was still autonomous.

Now it was Gao Zheng's turn. Yue country's hidden prime minister stood up, pointed two fingers like a sword, lightly and casually wiped in front of him, wiping out a long sword two fingers wide. With a flip of his five fingers, he gripped it in his palm. Facing Wen Zhong's disappearance, his face showed no expression. Facing Jiang Wang's gaze, he calmly opened his mouth: "Jiang real person's battle in Heavenly Capital City, shadow stones flew everywhere, selling for sky-high prices. I bought them and watched repeatedly. You are a strong person with almost no weaknesses. Your sense between life and death is even more top-notch. Your reaction to danger sometimes occurs even before your thinking. This is your advantage, and also my opportunity. If I want to kill you, I have to set up layers of schemes, use danger to manipulate danger, let your instinct and thinking produce conflict. This sword of mine, when used against..."

This was less like fighting to the death and more like teaching! From the perspective of an absolute top real person who could impact the derivation path at any time, he was teaching Jiang Wang how to chop off his last weakness, teaching Jiang Wang how to kill himself!

The time-space dark cocoon could no longer restrain Ren Qiuli. "Enough!" That Yue country emperor's seal in the historical long river stirred the river water, splashing and directly jumping into the array, stamping on the top of Gao Zheng's skull! It was like the ringing of a mourning bell. Gao Zheng's words stopped abruptly. The straight sword he held horizontally in front of him had not even had time to reveal its edge, and in Jiang Wang's regretful eyes, it disappeared inch by inch. Gao Zheng himself was very calm. In the process of this sword's disappearance, he gazed at Jiang Wang: "Wen Jingxiu has his own ideas. This is where his lifetime fame and career lie, and he has exhausted everything. Any place where he has offended you is his fault alone. Jiang real person, whether you want to kill or torture him, it is all his to bear — do not transfer your anger to Yue country, give Yue country's new policy an opportunity." His eyebrows were still tightly locked. From the first time Jiang Wang saw him in the back mountain of Hidden Prime Peak, these wrinkled eyebrows had not loosened. Worrying about what the world worried about! He was still that isolated, cold, and stern person, even his requests were very proud. First he gave pointers, then he raised a request.

"I have no habit of transferring anger. I have never hated Yue country. I respect you and Yue Taizong," Jiang Wang said.

Gao Zheng closed his eyes. He had obtained Jiang Wang's promise. At this moment, he was only a historical projection, but he was still doing what Gao Zheng did his entire life — patching up this country which was leaking wind everywhere, this unstable state of mountains and rivers, year after year. He disappeared in the room, a slightly larger splash in the long river of history, sinking down, and that was all.

"Now only us are left." Jiang Wang held his sword and turned around, looking at Ren Qiuli who was sitting leaning against the wall. The time-space dark cocoon only had a few strands of silk weave left, but Ren Qiuli slowly closed her eyes. This was of course not giving up.

Just in the next moment —

A terrifying hurricane rose around her body! Before she suddenly opened her eyes, many time-space cracks were floating. The dissolving power of Gao Zheng and Wen Zhong mingled in the river of years, pouring towards her like a heavenly waterfall. Because they were killed by Jiang Wang, and because they were voluntary, there was no need to worry that these powers were impure. Heavenly Mechanism real person was already at the peak of Cave True power, and she was still rising at an almost infinite rate! The true use of the Yue country emperor's seal was here, making full use of talent. Although the people of Yue were dead, they were still the soul of Yue country. Gao Zheng's and Wen Zhong's powers were conscripted by her, making her reach a previously unattainable power at this moment.

False derivation path! Ren Qiuli stared fixedly at him, just as he had stared fixedly at her before: "Try to see if you can reach the absolute peak before I kill you —"

Her words only went this far. Because the Jiang Wang in front of her was no longer visible. The momentum of fighting to the death from the previous moment, this time there was no astonishing *Hong* shadow. She, focused on controlling power, only saw a winding, time-space-traversing flying rainbow. In an instant, it burst out of the room, leaped in that time-space corridor, broke through the stubbornness, and fell into the vast river.

Jiang Wang actually had such a profound understanding of this great array already. Jiang Wang... he jumped into Yue country's history!