Chapter 2456: All is Illusion

“Namo… Three Treasures Tathagata!”

In the sky above Tianfeng Valley, the Dharma Body of the myriad beings descends from heaven.

This old monk, with a face of compassion, the faces of myriad beings, a thousand and hundred illusions.

With palms pressed together, the heavenly wind flows naturally.

His eyes, without sorrow or joy, yet everything becomes vivid.

The doors and windows of Baiyujing Tavern are all open, letting the heavenly light rush in, unafraid of wind and waves. The closed sign board, shaking and swaying, falls down, caught by Chu Yao, to be used next time.

“Master!” He opened his mouth wide, showing joy on his face.

Lian Yu Chan’s entire body relaxed, carrying trays to serve dishes, like a butterfly threading through flowers.

Bai Yu Xia lazily leaned back, feeling that prices could still be raised. Everyone should have a lot of room for acceptance.

The entire tavern instantly became lively and noisy!

Everyone knows the owner of Baiyujing Tavern has arrived; it is absolutely safe here. To discuss matters between Pingdeng Country and Jing Country again, truly gives the leisure of watching fire from the other shore.

At the window of the ninth floor, Xiahou Lie raises his cup to toast from afar.

In the past, watching him win the championship from below the stage, today watching him reach the absolute peak from the building, the taste in between is particularly hard to describe.

This Way-proving wine…

He cannot help but slightly savor it!

The Dharma Body of the myriad beings slightly returns the courtesy to Xiahou Lie, then concentrates on patrolling the valley—Kuang Ming had an incident in front of Baiyujing Tavern; he has some concern.

But with this look, he immediately looks up to the sky, somewhat surprised.

The protector of Pingdeng Country took away Kuang Ming, yet in an instant wiped out the traces, the last flash, already outside the heavens!

Where does he want to take Kuang Ming to kill him?

At this moment, the sun hangs high, ten thousand li of flowing clouds, the omnipresent Yuhang starlight flowing, mixing with the sunlight.

The Dharma Body of the myriad beings originally wanted to ask Master Guanyan, but after considering for a moment, still did not disturb him.

If this fight were to happen right in front of the tavern, he wouldn’t mind intervening. But they have already killed their way outside the heavens; he doesn’t have that deep a relationship with either side.

Isn’t it seen that the great commander of Jing Country’s elite riders is also drinking wine leisurely on the upper floor?

Compared to his original body, the Dharma Body of the myriad beings pays more attention to "affinity," not such a forceful personality.

This period of time, the world has many affairs. Here at Xingyue Plain, he is best to just watch.

Before entering the tavern, he finally looked at the sky once—

The pure and blazing flawless heavenly light, like a dream, like an illusion, unexpectedly has a few points of variegation!

The variegated light colors are all received in Kuang Ming’s pupils.

His eyes slightly contract, finally feeling a few points of death intent.

Today Zhao Zi’s chessboard world far surpasses all previous performances.

Is Zhao Zi’s strength far exceeding the past, already beyond what intelligence can summarize, or does the other side understand himself too well, with too many targeted arrangements in this chessboard world… Is this world’s suppression of him stronger than imagined?

What makes him especially vigilant is that Qian Chou and Sun Yin both stand quietly to one side, each with Dao principle power like whiskers and tails flying behind them!

These two protectors only silently participate in the construction of the chessboard world. As if they only care about how to make him die more thoroughly, blocking his retreat, and are not too concerned about the time of killing.

This is different from the deaths of Yin Xiaoheng and even Qiu Tie. The first two incidents happened very suddenly, in places with no one around, contending in a split second.

How to take him away at Xingyue Plain, and make a move under the gaze of all, yet have this kind of leisure?

He suddenly thought, Xingyue Plain is in the supernormal sense the place closest to the ancient starry sky; another similar position is Tianma Plain.

At the same time, Xingyue Plain is also a place where Jing Country’s power has not truly covered, especially after Baiyujing Tavern was established.

So at this moment, are they still in the present world?

Could it be they have already rushed to some place outside the heavens!

He chose to come to Xingyue Plain to meet with Xiahou Lie; this is the unspoken understanding between both sides—but before coming to Xingyue Plain, he naturally also considered this situation.

As the commander of the Central Empire’s eight generals, his life and death are widely connected. With Yin Xiaoheng already dead, he absolutely won’t be careless, giving the other side an opportunity.

Behind him, there are people paying attention; his reinforcements are waiting with weapons!

Although the incident outside Baiyujing Tavern happened in an instant, it’s impossible to wipe the traces that clean. Logically, support from Jing Country’s court should have arrived.

But now, the chessboard world is calm without waves; these few protectors are leisurely.

Where did the problem occur?

The East Heavenly Master Song Huai, who should be constantly paying attention here, where is he?

Is it Sheng Gong or Zhao Wang who made a move to block?

Or does Pingdeng Country want to complete the task here, give up all other directions, pour all efforts into an unprecedented great war on this path, to strongly confront the Central Empire with a single organization?

Even Kuang Ming, such an Empire commander, has to admit—

The entire Pingdeng Country’s power added up, if paid with the courage of death, indeed has a huge threat!

Trapped in this chessboard world, Kuang Ming discovers he is completely in the dark.

The military says not to fight a war without preparation; he also never starts a war in such a situation of knowing nothing—it’s really because Yin Xiaoheng died suddenly, Jing Country’s anger from top to bottom couldn’t be suppressed, and Pingdeng Country’s response was too intense!

This is the joint action of the entire Dao country’s three veins and the Emperor’s party; everyone is just a part of this national weapon. Even as an eight generals commander like him, he only has to obey orders, and has not much autonomy.

When the Empire strikes from all sides, he came to Xingyue Plain, while meeting with Jing Country, also using himself as bait.

But pulling in the net is not his duty.

Just like Lou Yue, Pivot Envoy, went to encoffin Qiu Tie, the person paying attention behind is North Heavenly Master Wu Daoyu.

Jing Country wants to show that it absolutely doesn’t care about the threat from Pingdeng Country, and at the same time, every line has sufficient guarantee. This is the strength and foundation of the Central Empire!

Staring at his line, the East Heavenly Master who absolutely shouldn’t make a mistake at this time, what happened?

Not to mention the issue of accountability afterward, now Kuang Ming most needs to consider is—

What should I do?

Could it be covered with a Qiankun Youlong Flag on my body, recognized as "died gloriously for the country," and that’s it?

Dying to guard the Dao is not fearful. But dying here, dying due to others’ mistakes, how is that the sought way?

Kuang Ming has already given birth to the intent to retreat, but the killing intent on his body becomes even more fierce, as if giving birth to spirituality, twisting like a vicious beast, thrusting left and drumming right, roaring incessantly!

“Yin Xiaoheng is indeed killed by you all!” Kuang Ming lifts the iron spear: “At this time provoking Jing Country, and in this way—you all in Pingdeng Country never had the idea of truly walking under the sunlight, ah! Coiled tail night snake, can it become prominent?”

“When announcing Pingdeng Country as the murderer, you all indeed don’t have definite evidence!” The always very affable, always slightly smiling Qian Chou, at this moment smiles a bit strangely: “You all indeed don’t need evidence!”

Kuang Ming looks at him once, very surprised he would say this.

Is this something worth being surprised about? Jing Country striking Pingdeng Country is like stepping on an ant, or a biting poisonous ant… What evidence is needed?

“The Jing Country in my impression is not like this.” Qian Chou holds the handle of the cart with both hands, as if not intending to fight. Like that most simple, most without schemes vendor, towards the guest in front, he has a bit of disappointment.

“Jing Country is a huge country, Dao is an boundless concept, what you see is only the block in your eyes, and you think it is the sky. I am rather curious—” Kuang Ming asks with interest: “Who let you have this misunderstanding?”

Qian Chou does not speak.

Today is not for chatting with Kuang Ming after all.

He picks through the goods on the cart, and like looking at goods, examines Kuang Ming, thinking about which item to use later, to end this *Dang Xie* commander’s life.

“General Kuang likes to speak of under the sunlight, speak of snake leaping to dragon. Snake is Si, Wu Si Zhang Shaowu, innate with illness, demon blood exchanged body, suffered clan execution but survived alone, poor and troubled but rose up, outstanding in the forest, has the appearance of prominence.” Zhao Zi’s voice is like frost: “But wasn’t he killed by you all?”

“Looking at his life experience, it is also the kind that storytellers like to praise. Pity he died, once dead it’s not.” Kuang Ming is accustomed to killing, also accustomed to others wanting to kill him, that kind of scrutiny. At this moment, he has a bit of emotion: “Just like your Pingdeng Country, once had the possibility of success. But if destroyed now, who will still remember if some people among you had ideals? The world will only leave the crimes of you these people! So advise you all—”

He grins a smile, the smile more cruel than not smiling: “Cherish life.”

“One Tiangong City has already been buried with Yin Xiaoheng. You all dare to come surround me—” He asks: “And prepared to give how many lives?”

Wu Si, Zheng Wu, Chen You, and Li Mao, who must have no luck.

Up to now, Pingdeng Country’s twelve protectors, already four have died in battle, a one-third reduction in high-level combat power!

And this battle has not ended.

Or even more will die.

“Not quite the same as what you think.” Zhao Zi does not express how firm her fighting determination is, only says: “If the matter of Yin Xiaoheng is truly done by us. At the very least, before killing Yin Xiaoheng, we would also inform Li Mao in advance, let him have a chance to retreat.”

The death rate of protectors is very high, but Zhao, Qian, Sun, and Li have been together for a long time.

For Li Mao’s ideals, even if they don’t think it can be realized, they cannot help but have respect in their hearts.

After all, no matter for what specific reasons, leading to their different life encounters, resulting in finally walking into Pingdeng Country, there must be a premise of “Heavenly Dao unfairness.”

Many people come to Pingdeng Country with hatred; this is also why Pingdeng Country’s external image is hard to be mild—resentment will make people ugly; those unwashed hates, in the long time, often distort the heart.

Once those extreme emotions lose restraint, they will inevitably turn into another kind of evil. People who have been hurt by evil sometimes become more ferocious than those who hurt them.

The mentality of revenge without sin will make many behaviors “self-justify.” People who explain themselves as “justice” even don’t realize the cruelty of their actions.

Like Wei Hai initially chasing and killing Jiang Wang—because of long-term hate towards Qi Country, she almost turned the task of “creating a sense of crisis for Jiang Wang, driving him away from the East Domain” into pure torment of Jiang Wang. In “tormenting Qi Country’s prodigy” this matter, she gained unparalleled pleasure.

This also directly led to Gu Shiyi and Pingdeng Country’s parting ways.

Similar things to Wei Hai are not few.

Zhao Zi and the others have seen many.

Even Zhao Zi herself has not been soft. To achieve the final purpose, she can use any means.

Li Mao is different.

Li Mao has many reasons to resent this world, but he doesn’t. He even doesn’t resent Chu Country. In the last stage as a heavenly ghost, he only wants to save this world, use his ideals to illuminate the human world, so that pains like his no longer occur.

He wants to cut off the root of pain, not target a specific organization or individual.

As fellow Pingdeng Country protectors, for Li Mao’s ideals, they also respect him.

But they cannot save Li Mao from misfortune.

Those who meet in Pingdeng Country are all lost people.

Cultivating a body of skills is just a clay golden body.

Still cannot save oneself, how to save others!

The white piece that Zhao Zi picks up with two fingers counts as expressing Li Mao’s fate. Then now she should pick up the black piece named Kuang Ming, as a sacrifice.

“The people you wait for won’t come!” She says.

In the sky of the chessboard world, there is a yellowed handbook, slowly turning pages. Every page is densely packed text squeezed together, like a heart that urgently needs to pour out.

Every page turned, the chessboard world seems to broaden a circle.

Facing Kuang Ming’s gaze, Zhao Zi says: “Do you know Lou Mingbi? He has another name called Zheng Wu. He is an ordinary teaching mister in Qin Ku Academy.”

Kuang Ming painfully discovers he cannot find a breakthrough in the current chessboard world, and all his secret means to contact the Central Great Hall have failed!

Is Pingdeng Country really powerful to this extent?

His expression is calm: “Consider it knowing? After all, it was Zuoqiu Wu who personally sent him to be killed.”

“His thoughts, how to say… slightly outdated. To the extent that we all frown.” Zhao Zi articulates like flipping a book, very clear: “Some people in our organization, possibly including Zhao Wang—they have fresh pursuits. Pursuing a method of saving the world different from the past.”

“But Lou Mingbi opposes the existing world order, and ultimately walks the same path as us. No matter forward or backward, at least the dissatisfaction with the present lets us have common demands.”

“This is his book of attaining the Dao.”

“His greatest wish all along is to let a Jing Country general hear the echoes of the old era.”

“The name of the general he expected—”

Zhao Zi glances at Kuang Ming: “Is not you, is Yin Xiaoheng.”

Kuang Ming ‘oh’s once: “Sitting in our position, inevitably offend some people. Marshal Yin’s enemies might indeed be slightly more…”

He pauses, somewhat regretful: “If given him some more time it would be good, he is very skilled at killing cleanly.”

Not even necessary to ask what personal entanglement Lou Mingbi has with Yin Xiaoheng. Nothing more than another pitiful insect whose whole family was killed by Yin Xiaoheng—speaking of it, Yin Xiaoheng’s knife is so fast, so decisive, the grass under the scythe that hasn’t been completely eradicated, isn’t it too much?

The more you kill, the more that slip through the net?

He lifts his eyelids: “Very pity, you all didn’t give him time. I still can’t figure out until now why you all want to kill him. The establishment of Tiangong City once made me think you all are about to make something of yourselves. Yet you all bury yourselves at this time—does Pingdeng Country this organization never truly believe in the future?”

“Earlier no words to say, now I do want to chat a bit. Although Zhao Zi explained, you also didn’t listen!” Sun Yin looks at the Kuang Ming in front, slowly says: “We—at least I personally, am willing to pay any price to kill Yin Xiaoheng.”

“But Yin Xiaoheng indeed is not dead by our hands—we didn’t have time to act, and the opportunity was fleeting.”

Sun Yin has no emotion: “Very obviously, someone helped us seize the opportunity, and thoughtfully imitated our battle traces—Pingdeng Country has seen wind and rain for so many years, we few who act more, being remembered for our means is also very normal.”

“I am a person who doesn’t like to listen to others speak, believing action is better than words! You all emphasize this several times, instead making me a bit unsure! Because at this time, no need for empty words.” Kuang Ming slightly lifts his chin: “Sun Yin, you telling me these, is hoping I help you all clear your name?”

He has a bit of reserve: “Can you tell me the clues you all know, say to this commander to know. If the truth is truly as you all said, this matter is not without room for maneuver. Compared to open enemies, we hate crafty ones more!”

Of course, the matter won’t have room for maneuver anymore.

Even if Yin Xiaoheng’s death still has doubts.

Qiu Tie’s death is real and true.

Tiangong City cannot be rebuilt, even if built it cannot raise the flag of equality again.

Those people of Pingdeng Country who have been swept away also have no possibility of resurrection.

Kuang Ming is willing to talk only because he might really die today!

“Can still have room for maneuver?” Sun Yin says in surprise: “But I really killed Qiu Tie! This butcher with hands full of blood, actually said he went to cultivate and nourish! Put down the butcher’s knife, can one become Buddha? I killed him at the Yellow River bank, used a yellow earth platform to enshrine him, wanting to see his Buddha nature! But saw nothing. Can you imagine how disappointed I am?”

Kuang Ming ignores this kind of venting that seems like provocation, presses his eyes: “This commander might as well speak straightforwardly, the order to hunt Pingdeng Country cannot be withdrawn, this involves the Central Empire’s face. But the intensity of execution can be adjusted accordingly. Hunt but not exterminate, no different from before with you all—premise is, you all can prove Yin Xiaoheng is not killed by you all.”

“You all don’t need to prove we killed Yin Xiaoheng, but we need to prove we didn’t kill Yin Xiaoheng?” Qian Chou smiles and asks.

“This commander needs to give the Central Great Hall an account.” Kuang Ming’s tone tries to be calm: “Since you all are willing to sit down and talk, you have to show the attitude of talking. Meaningless anger is not a way to solve problems.”

“So this can also be talked about, ah!!” Sun Yin bursts into wild laughter: “You all Jing Country, a contemporary true person died, the river official in charge of rivers! Can also talk, ah!!!”

“The river official before Qiu Tie, Jiang Wang killed six at once, they also calmly talked it through.” Zhao Zi reminds from the side: “Of course, that was under the watchful eyes of many signers of the Taixu Alliance Treaty, we don’t have people standing behind us.”

“Still have to pull the tiger skin, ah!” Qian Chou sighs.

“Aren’t we just unable to pull the tiger skin, can’t play them under their rules, that’s why we ended up in Pingdeng Country?” Sun Yin laughs heartily.

Kuang Ming has already discovered these three protectors have deep malice towards Jing Country. This is not the attitude for talking at all.

“If you all don’t want to talk, then explaining to me whether Yin Xiaoheng was killed by you all, what meaning is there?” Truly at the point of life and death, Kuang Ming does not shrink back; he grips the iron spear: “Come on, what Lou Mingbi’s book of attaining the Dao, what Zhao Zi’s world, Qian Chou’s goods cart, and you Sun Yin—let me see how you all kill me!”

“Zhao Zi explains to you is because she by nature doesn’t like to be wronged. And I explain to you, I just hope you die clearly.” Sun Yin at this time instead does not confront sharply: “Maybe not only we hope you die?”

His voice is like the whisper of an evil ghost: “Think carefully, who have you offended? Why would Pingdeng Country be framed, we be forced to this situation. Why just your line has a problem? Who gave us the intelligence!”

Kuang Ming fell silent.

This period of time, he indeed felt unprecedented danger.

The entire Central Empire internally, the tense atmosphere is on the verge of exploding!

He has long realized—perhaps they are personally experiencing an important era; the key nodes of history can come at any time, but don’t know who will have the life to witness, who is the one laughing last?

He took a deep breath: “Regarding what you said about Yin Xiaoheng.”

“You said you are willing to pay any price to kill Yin Xiaoheng.” Kuang Ming looks at Sun Yin, that tiger head mask with a silly look always makes him like seeing a very lively child: “I want to know, why?”

Why?

Sun Yin also often asks himself, why!

When he was still You Que, still known as “You Jinglong,” when he shattered his heart and ruined his Dao, coughing blood all the way back to Tianjing, when he became a cripple, muddled back to Taiping Prefecture, he didn’t ask why.

He always felt it was his own uselessness.

War is the most cruel thing in the world, the battlefield is the most cruel place, yet he couldn’t harden his heart.

Bearing the family honor, one prefecture’s rise and fall, receiving military orders unable to disobey.

Biting his teeth to kill, yet unable to fight against his conscience.

He couldn’t fight against anything, too weak to end up like this!

He thought it was himself failing the emperor’s expectations, failing Long Jun’s praise, not worthy of the name “Jinglong.”

He thought his reason for shattering his heart at Ye Wang City was because he wasn’t strong enough, not firm enough. Not a true strong one!

Until one day, someone came to tell him—You Jinglong shattering his heart at Ye Wang City was a huge conspiracy.

Until that person asked him—have you been recruited by Yizhen Dao?

Only then did he start asking—

Why?

Why just him?

Only then did he slowly recall many things.

All the past can be traced.

He thought of the entire Jing Country’s war to conquer Wei, the things he saw and experienced one after another, actually all not coincidences; there has always been an invisible hand choking him, step by step tightening his heart, until the explosion at Ye Wang City!

He thought that not only did he refuse Yizhen Dao’s recruitment, but he also immediately reported to Jing World Terrace!

During that time, many all kinds of people around him, his side was checked inside and out many times, that period a large number of suspected “Yizhen” members were arrested, he also gained a long period of peace.

Later thinking back, that might be the source of disaster.

You Jinglong’s fall is Yizhen Dao’s revenge!

His shattered Dao heart is the alarm bell in the shadows.

Killing a chicken named “You Que” to warn all who do not submit!

Thanks to book friend “Wuliao Yehei You Shang” for becoming the alliance master of this book! This is the 819th alliance for Chixin Patrol Heaven!

This chapter is 6K, among which 2K is an addition for the great alliance “Yongbao You Shenme Yong”! (1/3)