Chapter 2524: Realization Before Death

Tu Yu Zhenjun, the world's Li Yi!

This was his first time participating in Jing Guo's grand court assembly. He did not care about anyone's mood, but everyone had to speculate on his intentions.

Holding "the beginning" and "the end," was "the start" also "the end"? His power was increasing violently every day. This name, along with Jiang Wang, had cut open the upper limit of this generation and was still continuously expanding, thus creating such a vast sky, with heavenly prides rising together, ten thousand kinds competing.

The path Li Yi walked was like a sword. The line of sight split by him was the invisible and colorless sword qi surrounding this long sword.

This sword split open the central great hall, straight to the forefront of the hundred officials—

The world could not hide its edge.

He stood still, stopping before the Dan Bi. Standing on the same line as him were only three people: the former prime minister Luqiu Wen Yue, the Dang Xie commander Kuang Ming, and Jin Wang Ji Xuan Zhen.

This standing position almost explained everything. In the next twenty-five years, Jing Guo's court structure would be embodied in this.

From here to Shen Xiao, these three would be Jing Guo's court civil official first person, military official first person, and imperial clan first person.

And Li Yi was the future.

On the court, among the dignified various lords, who could not envy this? To reach such a position solely by cultivation and talent.

Even the emperor slightly lowered his eyelids, a few points of joy in his laugh: "Tu Yu has come!"

Li Yi lowered his head in greeting: "Have seen Your Majesty."

He said: "The sect leader is inconvenient to come to the capital, and ordered me to come in his stead."

The sect leaders of the three Dao Gate holy lands almost never came to Tianjing City, only sending a few Heavenly Masters as representatives to supervise state affairs. After all, in the Dao Country nominally, the three great sect leaders and the Great Jing Emperor stood side by side. If they truly met face to face, the seating arrangement would not be easy to manage.

The weight of Li Yi's sentence was so heavy that even the emperor had to treat it solemnly: "Hunyuan Zhenjun has any suggestions for court matters? I am willing to hear them."

"The sect leader only ordered me to attend court in his stead, not to offer any suggestions," Li Yi said.

The emperor smiled: "Then Tu Yu, for now, observe from the side. If you have any thoughts on the court situation, speak freely. You purely seek the Dao; do not be bound by worldly etiquette."

Li Yi responded with an "agreed" and then stood silently. As long as he stood there, it was Da Luo Mountain casting down a heavy weight. Other things were indeed unnecessary.

Xu San inevitably felt a yearning in his heart and secretly pondered the situation—Senior Brother Li Yi substituting for the sect leader to enter court today was something he hadn't known beforehand, indicating that the high levels had some movements that even core true transmissions like him could not know in advance. What could it be?

He stood straight, head lowered humbly, his eyes occasionally glancing around. On the hall were seated Zong Zheng Si Qing Ji Yu Min, and the four great Heavenly Masters sitting on the Yin He Jin Qiao, which could be considered transcending the hundred officials.

And Senior Brother Tu Yu was similarly standing alongside the foremost three people. Jin Wang, needless to say, was the well-deserved imperial clan first. Standing at the first position on the left, representing the head of the hundred officials, was Luqiu Wen Yue, firmly reinstated to her original position. Her original retirement was for the layout to unfold; now that Yi Zhen Dao had been completely captured in the net, she naturally should return to her proper place.

Had they not seen that the current prime minister, Shi Zi Zhan, was still standing behind her, clearly indicating that the position had already been decided? For the teacher minister, having this period of holding power experience and then resuming the prime minister position was logical. The emperor appointing and then reappointing him to this position would naturally not lack compensation. Salary, fief, secret scriptures—whatever was due would be given.

For the civil minister, retreating from the prime minister position with guilt was a major blow to official path cultivation. Although she retreated and returned and established such great merit, it still could not fully compensate—precisely because of this, her earlier resignation and seeking death truly had persuasiveness and indeed made Yi Zhen Dao somewhat negligent. But precisely because it harmed herself in a hundred ways and benefited the country, the emperor would absolutely not forget her efforts and would give her greater trust.

The upcoming grand enterprise of unifying the six directions was what this pair of monarch and minister sought. Compared to the civil minister standing there as a matter of course, Kuang Ming standing alongside her at the forefront of the hundred officials was what made people hard to imagine—before Yi Zhen Dao's extinction, Kuang Ming was no matter what unable to reach this position!

In terms of merit, seniority, ability, origin, why was he standing there? There was no connection.

But in the grand court, the standing positions of the hundred officials had strict regulations. Where one should stand, and any changes in position, were specially instructed by ritual officials before entering the hall; no one could stand incorrectly.

Xu San thought and thought, his shock hard to conceal, only able to press his head low.

"The various ministers, rise!"

The emperor's voice rang out at this time. Xu San almost felt this was targeting him, but also understood he was not yet qualified to be targeted by the emperor. He just pressed down his head and then lifted it up again as naturally as possible—and saw one official hat after another successively rising before him.

Wind blew rice seedlings full fields green. Jing Guo's officials were truly many!

The emperor, from above the Dan Bi, cast down his inscrutable gaze, his tone quite gentle: "Today's grand court discusses matters, with state affairs as the priority. Worldly etiquette can be exempted."

"The various ministers are all here; I will speak long words shortly."

He slightly pondered: "The first matter: dismiss Lou Daojun from the Huang Chi vice commander position, and let Chunyu Gui succeed him."

Xu San's first thought was, long words... this is too short! Then came a shock—the emperor opened with the main event?

Chunyu Gui serving as Huang Chi vice commander was something already confirmed earlier; today was just going through the motions, publicly announcing it, actually nothing surprising. The true main event was after Lou Yue relinquished the Huang Chi vice commander position... where would he go?

According to the secret news Xu San obtained before the court assembly began—the emperor intended to let Lou Yue serve as Yu Jing Shan great sect leader!

Xu someone, having just been released back to Da Luo Mountain, could obtain this secret news, showing how not secret it was. Before the formal decision, it was already full city winds and rains, precisely indicating the emperor's party was determined to get this position. Precisely because this position was too important, too critical, it must be confirmed by all sides before the court assembly began.

Jing Guo's state minister could be dismissed with one word and restored with one word, entirely decided by imperial power. The Yu Jing Shan great sect leader position could not be ambushed. The disputes triggered around this position were very likely to instantly become a huge storm!

Had the emperor really made preparations?

Chunyu Gui, fully armored today, quite heroic, bowed before the hall: "This minister will go through fire and water, serve the country loyally!"

The emperor seemed to smile, adding an explanation: "Lou Daojun has just entered the absolute peak and intends to focus on cultivation, gazing at the ancients and seeking the present, and requested to resign from the Huang Chi vice commander position to me. I first agreed. Chunyu Gui has few wise names, is growing increasingly upright, and has accumulated merits in the demon realm; he can shoulder heavy responsibilities. Today is considered a public announcement."

Here it comes! Here it comes! Xu San perked up his ears to listen quietly.

One mouth one Daojun, again one absolute peak after cultivation—the meaning was too clear. Although as a direct lineage of Da Luo Shan, he inwardly hoped for a balance between Dao power and imperial power, at this moment, he was truly too curious about how the emperor was preparing to confirm this position and how Yu Jing Shan, especially the West Heavenly Master, would react.

The entire central great hall was also waiting for the emperor's follow-up.

The emperor's voice said: "The second matter: Wen Xiang for state affairs dedicated heart and blood, planned for the nation and society for ten thousand years, endured humiliation and self-injury, thus executing Yi Zhen. Her merits cover past generations of state ministers, truly unmatched in the world, and she should naturally be restored to her original position, her salary increased by three grades, and courtesy added as Grand Tutor."

This expected matter was also nothing to say. Even with the prime minister's honor, adding the Grand Tutor title was unprecedented nobility in this dynasty.

Xu San didn't even care about Luqiu Wen Yue's reaction; he only wanted to see the main event.

The emperor again said: "The third matter: Dang Xie commander Kuang Ming accumulated merits, weighty in national power. Participated in exterminating Yi Zhen Dao, participated in killing Yi Zhen Dao's executioner, participated in exposing and besieging Yi Zhen Dao's head sect De Zhen. Due to his merits, confer the title 'Tian Du Yuan Shuai'!"

Xu San, of course, cared even less about Kuang Ming. But when the four words "Tian Du Yuan Shuai" came out, he was stunned and lifted his eyes!

"Tian Du Yuan Shuai" was just a nominal title, but compared to the eight grades "Dao Guo Yuan Shuai" title, in the definition of "Tian Du Yuan Shuai," there was one clause of "total control of the world's military." The previous person to receive this title was Yu Que.

That is to say, from this moment, Kuang Ming, who obtained this title, had already in name become Jing Guo's military affairs first person!

The emperor's rewarding him was very simple, with a kind of lazy seriousness and beauty. Participated in this, participated in that—what exactly was the degree of merit in "participated"? No one could say clearly. But the emperor said so; the world could only recognize it that way.

Compared to Kuang Ming, who had already proven Dao as a True Monarch, Dai Shan Wang Ji Jing Lu had not yet obtained great proof in military strategy. The Dou E army he commanded had suffered greatly in the Cang Hai and had also been replaced from the eight grades. Lou Yue, who held the Huang Chi army, had just relinquished military power and was replaced by Chunyu Gui. Shen Ce commander Xian Nan Kui was still only in the Cave True realm and had been thrown out of He Guo by Yuan Tian Shen. Although only superficial wounds, he was still stubbornly not recovering and needed to recuperate for at least three to five months...

In the vast empire, in military affairs, indeed no one could be weightier than Kuang Ming. Of course, Nan Tian Shi Ying Jiang Hong, the factual central empire's military affairs first person, was not in the scope of discussion. If there were truly a war involving the entire country, no one would be more trusted than Ying Jiang Hong.

But the key of the problem lay in... "Tian Du Yuan Shuai," this honorary title, was usually only granted to generals directly belonging to the imperial family. Either the main commander of Dou E or the main commander of Shen Ce. It almost represented the empire's highest military status and had always been a taboo for the emperor's party.

Although the central empire was three veins participating together, after all, it was the Ji surname imperial dynasty. Although called "Dao Country," it was with the state system as the core. In military affairs, it had always been centered on the imperial family, even more so after the military affairs privy council expanded to eleven people.

Kuang Ming taking this step had only two possibilities. Either he had thoroughly sided with the imperial family, winning the emperor's trust, or Yu Jing Shan had obtained the central empire's highest military power—in today's situation where Yu Jing Shan great sect leader Zong De Zhen was executed for crime, the latter was obviously absolutely impossible.

So Kuang Ming, from now on, could be regarded as part of the emperor's party.

Kuang Ming siding with the imperial family alone was fine, but he was also the main commander of the Dang Xie army and still held the Dang Xie army! Since Dao Li Year 1, when Jing Guo was established, this eight-grades strong army had always been jointly held by the three veins and the imperial family. The two armies belonging to Yu Jing Shan had never fallen under other military powers.

Even the current emperor, wanting to expand military power, used Huang Chi to replace Dou E in such a circuitous way, trying to first change the eight grades to nine grades. Essentially, it was still the method of expanding the military affairs privy council back then, without reaching towards the Dao Gate, without causing fierce backlash, to dilute the military power. This was also in the tacit understanding of all sides since Jing Guo's establishment—imperial power and Dao power, nothing more than eastern wind pressing western wind, you come and go, this time and that time.

But Yi Zhen Dao's extinction changed everything.

Yi Zhen Dao's head climbing to the Yu Jing Shan great sect leader position even gave the imperial family a once-in-a-thousand-years opportunity, an opportunity that had occurred only once in three thousand nine hundred years! The emperor, carrying the Yi Zhen legacy shell, went to Yu Jing Shan, drove away Yuan Tian Shen, conveniently pulled Kuang Ming to his back, and took away the Dang Xie army.

And this was not the end. Xu San had already thought of something even more terrifying—

When the emperor was assassinated, it was Sha Zai commander Pei Xing He who was responsible for guard duties. It was rumored that the emperor had specifically named him to go. The result of guarding the emperor was guarding out an assassin killing the ruler! Yu Jing Shan's military commander guarding, Yu Jing Shan's great sect leader plotting assassination—how to clear the relations? It all depended on how the emperor investigated!

If considering merits and crimes, the emperor executing Pei Xing He on the spot, no one could say anything... no one could save him. Then, under this pressure, facing the emperor carrying the Yi Zhen legacy shell, was it possible for Pei Xing He to completely kneel down? Putting himself in his shoes, Xu San did not think anyone could withstand that kind of pressure.

And the Sha Zai army that Pei Xing He commanded was also Yu Jing Shan's army! The death of one Yu Jing Shan great sect leader, Zong De Zhen, almost presented Yu Jing Shan to the emperor with both hands. The emperor, after risking himself, seemed to be about to accept with a smile.

He indeed didn't need to chat about Lou Yue taking the position now. After packing away Kuang Ming and the Dang Xie, he would then pack away Pei Xing He and the Sha Zai as well. Even if Lou Yue didn't become the Yu Jing Shan great sect leader, the emperor's party would still control Yu Jing Shan! What did the emperor want more than just a Yu Jing Shan great sect leader position? He wanted the Dao Gate holy land, Yu Jing Shan, to be thoroughly kneeling under imperial power, both inside and out!

What about the West Heavenly Master? What reaction would the West Heavenly Master have?

Xu San subconsciously turned his head to look at the Yin He Jin Qiao, only to see the four great Heavenly Masters sitting upright, not speaking. West Heavenly Master Yu Xi was even more absorbed, as if hearing nothing, simply like two different people compared to the last time she had stood out to vehemently denounce Luqiu Wen Yue.

Yu Jing Shan... just like this admitted defeat?

Xu San, with a casual thought, could think of many reasons to oppose this appointment—for example, Yi Zhen Dao's executioner Kuang Min was Kuang Ming's integral brother. Although Kuang Min was dead, Kuang Ming was hard to escape suspicion. With suspicion not yet cleared, he should not receive this heavy honor. This was such a good card to play.

Without dragging on for three to five months, it would absolutely not be clear. Then it would be natural to stop Kuang Ming's military position. How could Yu Jing Shan not find a True Person to command the army? How could they just send out the Dang Xie army like this? There, Yin Xiao Heng had died, and Peng Lai Island immediately controlled the Zhu Mo army. If not for True Person Meng Xu still guarding the Cang Wu realm, he would have already taken office.

What was wrong with Yu Jing Shan?

As soon as this question rose in Xu San's heart, he quietly extinguished it.

Yu Jing Shan's great sect leader was dead! What else could be wrong?! No matter how tough the West Heavenly Master was, in front of the emperor who had strongly swept away Yi Zhen Dao, in front of the emperor's party coming with momentum, she also could not support it. It was not that the West Heavenly Master was weak; the situation was truly already like this!

The emperor's voice was so gentle, the emperor's tone so calm, but silently... the situation was already like this.

Four thousand years of imperial power and Dao power balancing, four thousand years of offense and defense situation changes—how could it just already be like this? Xu San only saw this point at this moment, although it was because he had been captured by Qin Guang Wang and had just been released back to Jing Guo, missing a segment of experience. But was it not also because all this was too peaceful, too taken for granted? It was originally like boiling a frog in warm water; it was boiled to death before it felt the shock.

Then Senior Brother Tu Yu, or rather our Da Luo Shan sect leader, what attitude did they hold?

Xu San inevitably looked forward, his line of sight passing through the forest-like Tian Du great officials, seeing Li Yi standing straight and silently there, like a sword unrelated to the world, lonely. The emperor let him "speak freely, not bound by worldly etiquette." He seemed to have no views.

The sickly thin Kuang Ming, like a cold, hard iron spear bent, almost in a posture of breaking himself, half-knelt before the throne: "I, who survived the calamity, fortunately relying on heavenly grace, how can Kuang Ming not die for it!"

"It is best not to have the time for a beloved minister to die for it," the emperor's voice boomed in the great hall: "Tian Du Yuan Shuai, the state relies on you to cherish yourself."

Kuang Ming no longer spoke, only deeply lowered his head.

And the emperor just sat there, gently saying: "Zong De Zhen, with rootless intent, drove the Yi Zhen legacy shell. I completely seized this shell and stripped its intent, and have some harvests. Concerning history, concerning Yi Zhen Dao..."

His gaze fell from above, as if watching every one of the hundred officials: "This is the fourth thing I want to say today."

"Suppose Zong De Zhen thought the Yi Zhen legacy shell would have absolutely no accident and hid the Yi Zhen secret files in it."

He lifted one hand from beneath his emperor's robe, and a scroll of light mingled and turned; no matter how one looked, the jade slip could not be seen clearly, just held in his palm, and he laughed: "Just this one scroll."

The entire central great hall, which had always been quiet, was at this time solemnly cold, to the point of no sound of a heartbeat!