Chapter 2521: What Benefit Do I Bring to the World?

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When the Emperor of Chu said, "My virtue is thin," it was an act of self-blame by the Son of Heaven.

When the three factions of the Fragrant Qi Tower fled Chu, rumors circulated that the Chu court was extensively using private property to replenish the state treasury, in order to supplement the daily decline of national power. Merchants within the borders heard this and became fearful, and a large number fled to Jin... but there was no mention of the Son of Heaven’s self-blame.

He only reduced merchant taxes, solidified national laws, personally met with various merchants, and calmed the hearts of influential people.

When the national system was reformed, many powerful clans of the world were discontent. Merit-holding elders wept in the Grand Temple and cursed in wine houses, and they did not stop. There was considerable turmoil in both the court and the public... but there was no mention of the Son of Heaven’s self-blame.

He only drove his carriage to the Grand Temple to send off the merit-holding elders. He laughed when he heard reports about the events, and afterward continued to push for political reforms, intent on carrying them out. The merit-holding elders could curse him, and they could cry in the Grand Temple, but if they truly obstructed the new policies, he would simply raise his hand and strike with a knife.

After the great defeat in the river valley, the hearts of the people were in a panic, and the court and the public were shocked and fearful... but there was no mention of the Son of Heaven’s self-blame.

He only sharpened his soldiers and fed his horses, making good preparations to welcome the next great war.

The current Emperor of Chu is someone who never admits mistakes.

Today, he beheaded the transcendent Gongsun Xi, establishing supreme military merit, yet he blamed himself for the death of Zhuge Yifirst.

One can sincerely see his sorrow.

As the last symbolic figure of the era of Chu Taizu, Xiong Yizhen, the fall of Zhuge Yifirst also seems to signify history’s true turning point. This time, precisely as the new policies are like fire and tea, it represents the "reform and opening up of Chu's ills."

But saying goodbye to the past is often accompanied by pain.

Dou Zhao, under Gongsun Xi's design, built a bridge at the pinnacle of the absolute peak. Just as he set foot there, he was plundered by Gongsun Xi.

The consciousnesses of Jiang Wang and Dou Zhao were mixed together on the three-way bridge, easily manipulated by Gongsun Xi. The former's true body was in the Immortal Fall Forest, while the latter achieved the absolute peak in the Great Chu imperial palace.

Gongsun Xi wanted to completely devour these two absolute peaks and the Yin Yang True Pill. The Immortal Fall Forest was a necessary landing point.

And Xiong Ji, with the honor of a hegemonic Son of Heaven,潜入 Dou Zhao's dream and pierced its throat with a sword. This was simply destiny!

Did Zhuge Yifirst calculate this point or not?

Did he or did he not utilize the emotions between Zuo Xiao and Jiang Wang, disregarding Jiang Wang's life?

There will never be an answer.

But he gave a relatively reasonable explanation. He said he was unable to capture the means of a transcendent, he said he couldn't calculate everything, and he could only make enough preparations in all aspects.

Jiang Wang is indeed still alive now.

Zuo Xiao can no longer resent.

Zhuge Yifirst was also his elder, and he was a Chu person sheltered by Zhuge Yifirst.

At such a moment, he only held the flag, lowered his head slightly, and paid a Great Chu soldier's tribute to this legendary star witch.

An Guo Duke Wu Zhao Chang and Great Chu Crown Prince Xiong Zi Du, both wearing armor, also performed this ceremony.

Great Chu National Teacher Fan Shi Jue stood there with palms together, softly reciting the rebirth sutra. It wasn't that he had any extra feelings for Zhuge Yifirst. To be honest, he was still somewhat confused, not knowing how the fight suddenly began, how after the wave of treacherous and strange light turned ten thousand times, a transcendent suddenly died, and how Zhuge Yifirst also died...

Only, an old man who had served the country his whole life had passed away. He always hoped that the other party would close their eyes in peace.

He purely hoped that all beings would not suffer. If this wish could not be realized, then at least his master and younger brother would not suffer.

After the stars dimmed, the sky became clear, then it rained. Suddenly, clouds rolled and thunder turned, and the thunder roared, gradually coming and gradually going.

From this point on, the heavenly mechanism was confused and could not be measured.

When a transcendent dies, the sun and moon are eclipsed, and heaven and earth sacrifice for it.

No matter how Gongsun Xi finally died, no matter how dishonorable it was, the realm it once reached, the power it once possessed, all corresponded to a tsunami of the heavenly mechanism and the mad waves of the sun and moon.

When Zhuge Yifirst died, only the star river within Zhang Hua Terrace rippled slightly. Of course, he also "greatly benefited heaven," his life ending in Chu, and after death, exhausting itself in heaven and earth. And the memorial to him in the hearts of the people will surely not be only forty-nine days.

The Son of Heaven of Chu said he was "virtue thin," and various sides each had their sorrow. After a brief memorial, he lifted the Red Phoenix Emperor Sword in his hand and suddenly said: "Crown Prince! Come closer!"

Xiong Zi Du, fully armored, hurried forward a few steps and knelt halfway in front of the monarch: "This general obeys the order!"

This guy, except for the time he was a prisoner when he wasn't much like a prisoner, at other times, no matter what he did, he was a model. Building a city was meticulous, wearing armor meant following orders and prohibitions. When wearing ceremonial robes, he was the Crown Prince, and when his hair was unbound, he was an idle man.

The Emperor looked at him and slowly lifted the Red Phoenix Emperor Sword.

In the Immortal Fall Forest, the atmosphere was solemn.

Xiong Zi Du had cultivated his reputation for many years and was immediately granted the position of Crown Prince upon his release from prison. Everyone could also see that the Emperor of Chu intended to pass on the world.

But the Emperor of Chu today had established this unparalleled military merit. His prestige extended in all six directions, and the hardships of the past had already been cut open!

One could say that within and outside the empire, no one could again reverse his will. That supreme and peerless authority, was he still willing to let it go?

If the Emperor was unwilling to release power, the Crown Prince was the biggest opponent.

This Son of Heaven's sword could cut the world, cut noble names. The life and death, honor and disgrace of ministers were all within his one thought. Whether you were a civil minister, a military general, a clan member, or a god, a bright being, a present person, a derived path, or an absolute peak!

Xiong Zi Du knelt there, not moving, maintaining the required posture.

He was a minister, and also a son.

He accepted both honor and disgrace, and welcomed both life and death.

Time didn't actually pass for long, but it felt very long.

In the eyes of the people, the Emperor of Chu placed this Red Phoenix Emperor Sword on Xiong Zi Du's shoulder.

The Son of Heaven standing and the Crown Prince kneeling, the Emperor Sword falling on the armored shoulder – this was undoubtedly a transmission of power, an expression of the handover of glory!

Regarding today's matter, if the Crown Prince were to be said to have merit, then he certainly did. He had the merit of early preparation of the army, and the assisting merit of participating in the strangling of the transcendent Gongsun Xi. He could claim them all. As long as he participated in the pursuit of the renowned scholar in Zhang Hua Terrace, it would count as helping to nail down Gongsun Xi! Not to mention that the Crown Prince actually brought an army and was on the scene throughout the entire process.

Only, Xiong Zi Du was already the Great Chu Crown Prince. What kind of heavy reward could the Emperor bestow with such a solemn appearance?

The eyes of both Zuo Xiao and Wu Zhao Chang became unusually solemn. Even Huang Weizhen, who was originally about to leave, temporarily halted his footsteps – more precisely, he had already gone to see his daughter, but left a pair of eyes here.

And Xiong Zi Du himself... lifted his head in astonishment!

The Son of Heaven of Chu wore a red dragon robe, standing exceptionally straight, like a rock, the highest mountain in Southern Chu. The arm that lifted the sword was also straight, and his eyes looked directly at the Crown Prince, just like this saying: "The Sage said, 'He who receives the dirt of the nation is called the master of the land and grain. He who receives the inauspiciousness of the nation is called the king of the world.' The battle in the river valley, my young child sitting in prison for ten years, was to receive it for me. Having first received the dirt of the nation, and already borne the inauspiciousness, you can truly bear the land and grain. I have the heart to bestow the world, and you have the virtue to bear the world. This is known to the people of Chu."

He lightly sighed: "I originally planned to wield the sword for another ten years, to cut thorns for you, to step on the square acre... but the wind and rain came in the evening, how can I rely on the morning house? Life has its darkness and brightness, and can only be borne by oneself. I have already lost the heroic aspirations of the six directions. The intent of the mountains and rivers belongs to the Crown Prince. It is nothing more than a matter of full ritual, whether sooner or later. My child's wings are already full, and my mountains and rivers are already unfolded. Governing the world for ten years, I only see the accumulation of old and decaying emotions. It is better to let go early, to avoid the emergence of rifts in flesh and blood, and resentment in the court and the public."

The Son of Heaven of Chu actually wanted to abdicate to the Crown Prince today!

At the most important moment of his life, having established the greatest achievement!

He felt that he had done all he could do, completed all he could complete, and then wanted to neatly step aside and hand over the reins of the nation.

This Emperor really had a bit of a "rivers and lakes" air about him, and also quite a bit of willfulness!

Whose family's abdication is not done with great ritual, not with a grand ceremony, not informing the ancestors above, not reaching the various ministers below, not discussing and setting things in many ways, repeatedly cutting back power?

Just in the Immortal Fall Forest, put the Emperor Sword down like this. This supreme power of the present world, said to give, just give?

"What words are these, Father Emperor?!" Xiong Zi Du knelt down on both knees, slightly shuffled two steps in the air with his knees, and his resonant voice was like thunder: "You are the Son of Heaven whose virtue shines, whose merit covers past generations of ancestors. You have beheaded a transcendent, forever stabilized the Immortal Fall Forest, reformed old ills into new politics, and governed old classics into new codes. Even Taizu could not achieve this! You hold the heavenly outline and sit on the great treasure, and your child wields the sharp weapon as the vanguard. Then the eight directions will submit, the universe will return to one. The merit of the six directions cannot be achieved without you! Who in the world has resentment and hope? Who says these words again? Who dares to harbor such a heart?!"

"The Crown Prince's words are grand, yet there are several mistakes."

The Son of Heaven of Chu looked at him: "The Immortal Fall Forest is not yet stabilized, it will be stabilized in the hands of the new Emperor. Today's plotting against the transcendent, cutting old classics, and filling the world were all part of the Crown Prince's plan. Ten years in prison for the nation's suffering counted for something. One morning, upon being released, you swore to save the common people! That is, you first entered the Immortal Fall Forest to build a strong city to wait, leading ten thousand armies to gather soldiers to kill and pinpoint the transcendent—"

The Emperor's gaze swept over Zuo Xiao and Wu Zhao Chang, then looked back at the Crown Prince: "Both National Dukes can attest to this. They are both good ministers and pillars of the nation, and they are also your relatives. Crown Prince, it is not difficult for you to shoulder the world."

"Father Emperor!!" Xiong Zi Du grasped the sword edge on his shoulder for a moment, lifting his head to look at the Son of Heaven.

This was indeed a scene he had never imagined, a beautiful beginning he couldn't even dream of, but he was not joyful. In his astonishment, there was even a bit of indignation: "This is the great enterprise of my monarch father, a famous chapter of his lifetime! What kind of pig and dog is this child minister, that he can bear to steal his name and merit?!"

The Son of Heaven of Chu only silently looked at him, continuing to look until he slowly loosened the hand gripping the sword edge. The sword pressed on his shoulder, sinking a few points further. Only then did he slowly say: "What I give you is yours. Including this world, including this sword, and also your so-called merit—you only need to receive it, and then go forward. There is nothing that a Sage Son of Heaven cannot receive, unless you cannot shoulder it."

Saying this, the Emperor's five fingers loosened, and this Red Phoenix Emperor Sword fell from Xiong Zi Du's shoulder.

It missed Xiong Zi Du's armor, plundering down his body. It was the authority of the world, passing through the suddenly clear and suddenly rainy dusk. It fell all the way down, fundamentally not turning back. Falling was its only purpose, so it only measured people's thoughts... In the end, just as it was about to fall to the knee line, it was grasped by Xiong Zi Du's hand!

The Great Chu Crown Prince did not hold the handle, only gripping the sharp sword with his flesh. Holding the handle would have meant the Red Phoenix was already in his place. Gripping the edge still meant receiving its command and obeying its authority, but also having a bit of his own will, because this Emperor Sword was, after all, in his palm!

He still knelt there, lifting his head to look at the eyes of the Emperor of Chu that hung down from under his flat-heaven crown—those incomparably noble, supreme and peerless eyes.

Many times he had looked up like this, knelt, stood, in front of the throne, in majesty. He had also grown from a child with unbound hair to who he was now.

Too many things had changed, it seemed only these eyes remained forever unfathomable and majestic.

Xiong Zi Du slowly said: "My monarch father has the ability to weave heaven and earth, his merit far surpasses past generations, yet he puts the six directions in the future. This child minister's virtue is weak, barely able to look up. My monarch father entrusts this child minister with deep hope. This child minister must not correct based on my monarch father's one thought. If this child minister's governance is as exhaustive as my monarch father's, then how can it be like my monarch father? Hence, there is receiving, and there is not receiving."

"Receiving the dirt of the nation, receiving the inauspiciousness of the nation, receiving the expectations of the world, receiving the heavy burden of the common people, receiving the glory of the ancestors, receiving the wounds of past generations—"

The Great Chu Crown Prince, with one hand grasping the sword edge and the other supporting the sword handle, knelt like this, respectfully raising the Red Phoenix Emperor Sword above his head: "Plated gold is not true gold."

"Without virtue and virtue, without merit and merit, it cannot be received!"

The inheritance of the monarch position is a matter of the world, but it is also a family matter between this father and son.

The crowd in the field all remained silent.

The Emperor of Chu suddenly announced his abdication, quite like child's play. This was, of course, giving Xiong Zi Du the final examination question.

And the Crown Prince's answer sheet was not only for the Son of Heaven to see.

The examiners also included the two National Dukes, a master of the mountain and sea path from Chu land, the Great Chu army in the field, and the Zhang Hua Terrace standing like a rock against the sky... and also, the spirit of Zhuge Yifirst in heaven.

After the Emperor of Chu sighed grandly, he wanted to abdicate in front of the star witch's spirit.

Now he heard the Crown Prince's answer, every word and sentence clear.

He looked deeply at Xiong Zi Du: "A monarch king uses power, which is to correct everything within the universe. The world is vast, and its edge cannot be completely used. Crown Prince, you have chosen a difficult path."

"To achieve ancient and modern enterprises, one must break through ancient and modern dangers and obstacles. How can the path of the Son of Heaven in the six directions be a smooth path?" Xiong Zi Du answered with a resonant voice, then turned his resonant emotions into a smile: "Father Emperor, this child minister originally planned to say this. Perhaps in history books, such a dialogue would better showcase a hero."

He looked up at the Emperor, not concealing a son's deep affection for his father.

"But truly, it feels like taking advantage and then pretending to be obedient. This child minister is ashamed to say it."

He almost had tears in his eyes: "From ancient times to the present, those who have enlarged the great treasure, none are like my father, who has cut through thousands of ancient dangers and hundreds of generations of hidden worries, mutually benefiting the foundation of the six directions. Parents plan for their children, and monarchs plan for their ministers. You have exhausted your heart and strength until this matter is complete. As a son and a minister, Zi Du truly has nothing more to ask for. I only wish that my father's emotions are entrusted. I only wish that my emperor's virtue shines for a thousand autumns!"

Xiong Ji was silent for a moment, and then spread out his five fingers, placing them flat on the face of the Red Phoenix sword, also like gently stroking the Crown Prince's forehead with the sword. His eyes at this moment were very complex: "Since that is the case, my merit, I will take away. My mountains and rivers, you receive."

"Father Emperor!" Xiong Zi Du said earnestly: "This child minister is shallow in talent and young in years, I still need Father Emperor—"

"Good! Don't play that trick of three refusals and three acceptances!" Xiong Ji brushed his sleeve, leaving Xiong Zi Du hanging there: "Everyone here is family. Being so finicky is laughable!"

Xiong Zi Du held the Emperor Sword in his hand, momentarily not knowing what to say.

He often performed astonishing actions, always surprising people. But his father Emperor could also always give him some surprises... of course, there was also fright.

Could it be that he truly... wasn't being polite?

Xiong Ji then took off his flat-heaven crown at this time and half-squatted down. It had been a long time since he had squatted down like this to look at his own son, but he said nothing. He just placed this single crown directly on Xiong Zi Du's head.

The 旒珠 lightly shook, rolling light and shadow, flowing in the Crown Prince's features. He seemed not to have fully recovered his senses, but again suddenly saw several points of unfathomable majesty.

Xiong Ji grinned, lifted his hand to pat his shoulder, and stood up just like that. As he walked away, he very casually pulled his dragon robe, and the past glory and majesty all turned into the red glow at the edge of the sky.

The sun and moon eclipsing, the sudden clearing and sudden rain – at this moment, it was all just brilliant dusk.

He just walked away alone, wearing only a thin inner shirt—

"Intending to advance west and defeat the River Valley, mourning white for millions of Chu households."

"Reforming national politics and killing old merits, harming the virtue of Taizu."

"A dignified Son of Heaven of a nation, and doing the work of an assassin, greatly damaging national etiquette! Although I killed an evil transcendent to harm the nation's power, what benefit was I to the world?"

"It is time to go!"

Just like this, a grand voice echoed along the path, gradually scattering in the long sky.

Time reached the spring of the year 3930. The Son of Heaven of Great Chu, Xiong Ji, abdicated to the Crown Prince in the Immortal Fall Forest. Huai Guo Duke Zuo Xiao, An Guo Duke Wu Zhao Chang, and National Teacher Fan Shi Jue served as witnesses. At that time, the three armies were in formation, and the Zhang Hua Terrace was mutually inherited.

His life's merit, his abdication became his name, and his temple posthumous title was "Lie Zong Wu Emperor".