Chapter 2525: Heavy Burden of the People's Wealth

Zong Dezhen died in the outer heaven, under the gaze of Hong Junyan, Jiang Mengxiong, and others. His spirit and soul were both extinguished, leaving nothing behind.

Regardless of the considerations from any aspect, none of the Ji Yumin present could let him leave anything behind.

But Zong Dezhen didn't leave absolutely no trace.

At least the battlefield where he controlled Yi Zhen Yi Tui and the Jing Emperor fought to the death was absolutely secret, with no third person's line of sight.

What happened, what didn't happen, all depended on the Jing Emperor's single thought, decided by his one word.

Now, everything was in his palm.

At this moment, the question that had echoed in Jing Country's history for nearly four thousand years, a question never absent in the entire history of the Dao Gate, resounded again in the central great hall:

Who is Yi Zhen?

In the vast Sanqing Xuandu Shen Huang Gong, everyone kept their eyes straight ahead. No one was willing to expose their doubt, and even more so, no one was willing to reveal their unease.

In this cave heaven treasure tool, ranked second in the world, at this moment when Jing Court's strong ones gathered and the emperor sat high, escape was impossible. Zong Dezhen was trapped here and couldn't break free, let alone the other members of the Yi Zhen Dao.

The Yi Zhen Dao members in this place could only hope that this Yi Zhen secret document was fake!

After the emperor grasped the jade slip, there was no follow-up; he only cast down his abyss-like eyes.

And the hall responded with a long silence.

This silence solidified because of the emperor's eyes and was then shattered by the emperor's voice.

"Indeed, no one is panicked!"

The emperor seemed genuinely pleased and actually laughed aloud: "This shows that Our capital's high officials are not just filling the numbers; they are all exceptionally talented, with scheming hearts. Our heart is greatly comforted."

The officials in the hall tentatively followed with a couple of laughs.

The smiles on everyone's faces were similar: Your Majesty is witty, truly witty!

However, the emperor's laughter suddenly stopped: "Our knows that many people think this secret document is fake. Our sometimes hopes so too!"

"Because seeing these names, Our is truly heartbroken."

"Yan Yuchang."

The emperor suddenly called.

"This minister is here." The recently promoted Qingdu Minister, Yan Yuchang, walked out from the ranks of the hundred officials. His position was much further back than Xu San's, causing Xu San to look back at him in this central great hall.

This was a young civil official, not from any aristocratic family. There was a certain spirit between his eyebrows.

The emperor looked him over from high above: "You say, for the Yi Zhen Dao, does this Yi Zhen secret document have the necessity of real existence? And could Zong Dezhen, before defeat and death, not even be able to destroy this secret document? Our is asking you, do you think this secret document is real?"

"Theoretically speaking, if hidden within Yi Zhen Yi Tui, this secret document had almost no possibility of being discovered, and it had meaning as the inheritance of Yi Zhen Dao. Even if it were found, there was actually no great consequence, because that would have to be when Yi Zhen Dao was already destroyed."

Yan Yuchang had quite the demeanor of being unperturbed by honor or disgrace. He spoke eloquently: "As for Zong Dezhen, he has always been a person who only cares about himself. That was the case when he contended for the world back then, and it was the case when he later ascended Yu Jing Shan. Once at the moment of defeat and death, he probably couldn't be bothered about the fate of Yi Zhen Dao. He had no ideals. So, the Yi Zhen secret document in Your Majesty's hand can truly exist."

"Your understanding of Zong Dezhen is spot on, and you are also very clear-headed. You are indeed a talent, Our did not misjudge you." Having said this, the emperor instead sighed.

Yan Yuchang bowed in salute: "Your Majesty's wise eyes are like torches. This minister will exhaust his efforts not to let Your Majesty's wise eyes be covered with dust."

The emperor shook the book slip in his hand: "But why are you a Yi Zhen Dao disciple? If not for this secret document, Our would not have known your true face."

He contained anger in his smile: "Our even let you compile books and intended to let you be responsible for national history in the future. If you truly lived to that day, wouldn't the history books treat the Zong surname as orthodox and deprecate Our to worthlessness?"

There was no uproar in the hall, but the eyes of a crowd of high officials flickered, unable to settle.

"You, this unprecedented emperor, how do you care how history books evaluate you?" Yan Yuchang bowed deeply, then stood up: "In this minister's heart, Your Majesty is like the sun and moon, however, the Dao is the only truth, the Dao is eternal in the world."

He looked at the emperor and smiled brightly: "This minister is fortunate to receive Your Majesty's favor, and this minister is also unfortunate, in that he is the person who harbors Yi Zhen ideals."

This young body, just like this, bit by bit self-erased, becoming the emptiness of Yuan Jie.

In the past, when Lüqiu Wenyue bore sin and requested death in the court discussion, the Jing Emperor notably pointed out the names of three rising stars.

As one of these three, Yan Yuchang was actually a Yi Zhen Dao disciple!

The infiltration of Yi Zhen Dao into the entire Dao Country was truly shocking.

And after Yan Yuchang's identity was exposed, he didn't defend himself a single sentence, didn't pretend a single sentence, and actually went to his death so calmly. Or rather, his calm demeanor was his way of self-rescue, but the emperor did not pity him out of love for talent.

The scene of him gradually dissolving also seemed like a preview of the ending of the entire Yi Zhen Dao.

In this central great hall, not to mention the entire central empire, the entire central domain, the entire world, all Yi Zhen Dao disciples were already at the end of the road, with nowhere to go.

"This secret document involves officials everywhere —" The Jing Emperor raised the ever-changing book slip: "Blocking Our intentions, and yet shocking to the eye!"

At this time, outside the great hall, several screams and the clashing sounds of armor leaves rang out.

Obviously, the purge of the palace guards was in progress.

Because of the special nature of the Sanqing Xuandu Shen Huang Gong, the capital's high officials could not observe the specific situation outside, thus making it even more terrifying.

The emperor obviously did not plan to explain anything to the hundred officials in the hall. In this solidified atmosphere, he only slightly shifted his wrist, holding the book slip like a knife, his hand raised before the central court, his eyes killing through the beads, suddenly like iron cavalry rushing out: "You all may know, how many people in the hall will fall when Our brings this one knife down?"

There was no residual sound in the hall.

These capital high officials, who were majestic on the outside, were all lambs waiting to be slaughtered in front of today's emperor's knife edge. None could escape!

After another silence, the emperor put away this volume of book slips.

He sighed: "Our as the central emperor, how can the slaughter knife be moved lightly?"

Whether they were Yi Zhen Dao disciples or not, everyone let out a breath, as if a real sharp knife edge had left their neck.

"Yin Xiaoheng, Wanqi Jinghu, Qiu Tie, Ji Yanyue... plus today's Yan Yuchang, there are already too many people who have died because of Yi Zhen Dao." The emperor's emotions were hard to suppress for a moment: "Even if Our heart is like iron, Our feels pained by it!"

He overlooked the central pivot ministers of the vast empire, his eyes both pained and cold: "Our wants to say, Our does not wish to kill people again. But the Yi Zhen Dao has brought disaster for so many years. Famous generals, heavenly proud ones, brave generals, imperial clansmen, none have escaped. The Yi Zhen calamity is a poison for ten thousand years. If it is not eliminated today, there will still be ten thousand years!"

"Our wants to root out the Yi Zhen calamity, but not eliminate all of Yi Zhen."

His voice slowed down, and in an instant, thunder turned to fine rain: "Claiming to be the only one in the world, how can there be only Yi Zhen?"

"This world is so vast, the Dao Gate is so profound and long. The central empire must still unify the world and stand eternally."

"The central empire can tolerate self-righteous people, can tolerate people with no one in their eyes, can tolerate schemers, can tolerate ambitious ones, can tolerate all kinds of strange things. It can only not tolerate people who have in fact betrayed the empire!"

"Why must Yan Yuchang die?"

"Not because he is a Yi Zhen Dao disciple, but because he was involved in the death of Wanqi Jinghu."

The emperor spoke of the heartbreaking old matter: "The empire gave birth to him and raised him, and yet he, for the sake of so-called ideals, did this kind of behavior that abandoned the empire's interests. The empire cannot tolerate him!"

Above the cinnabar platform, the emperor once again raised that book slip: "Having said this, many people probably think that Our will destroy it —"

"How could that be!?"

"How can doing wrong things not pay a price? Those people persecuted by Yi Zhen Dao... If Our just lightly wipes away the names of these people like this, then what face does Our have to call himself 'monarch father,' how can Our shamelessly meet them?"

"But Yi Zhen Dao disciples are all true cultivators of the Dao Gate. Your merits are all profound; you are all people within the Dao Country. If Our does not consider things up and down and raises the slaughter knife, blood will flood this hall. This will inevitably lose the heart of governing and saving people, and it will also not cherish the heavy burden of Jing people's resources supporting you all."

"Today, Our will hide the knife in its sheath and no longer kill people. But you all look closely; this secret document is in Our hand."

The emperor casually threw that book slip to the side.

It was as if people only now noticed that the emperor's throne of this central empire was so vast. After the emperor sat down, there was still ample space, capable of accommodating that book slip which was always unclear but again linked to the lives of many people—and earlier, it was actually not visible.

The emperor's hands were placed on his own knees. At this moment, he sat upright with a straight body, firm like a standing heavenly peak.

"Our does not want to tell you all that Our has not fully looked at this secret document, and will not open it again later. Our will not use these words to ease your hearts."

"Since you all have entered the Yi Zhen Dao and done things that aided the tyrant, then you should bear this share of anxiety and fear!"

"This secret document is in Our hand. At that time, there was no third person; no one could bear not to look."

"But what Our wants to say is that this secret document will only be placed here from now on, carried with Our. Before, only Zong Dezhen knew; now, only Our knows."

"If Our unifies the world, this matter will no longer be mentioned. If Our abdicates after a hundred years, Our will take it away. If Our unfortunately collapses in position, Our will certainly destroy it before that. Our is not Zong Dezhen; Our heart has the world."

"But as long as Our is in position for one day, please remember — you all have a knife hanging on your neck."

"Before doing anything, think once about why Our will kill people."

The emperor's majestic eyes were finally obscured after the beads: "Our desires to unify the world, then no one in the world cannot be used, unless you are a betrayer of the country!"

In the central great hall, there was silence for a time.

Then, starting from an unknown person, a large portion of the capital's high officials bowed down, shouting "My emperor lives forever!"

Was this Yi Zhen secret document truly existing? Did it truly record all the members of the Yi Zhen Dao above?

Before it was truly opened, it would forever be impossible to determine.

In the process of bowing down, Xu San suddenly understood why this was the fourth thing.

If the conferment of "Capital Yuan Shuai" was prevented.

This secret document could immediately exist, and even be opened immediately.

If he, Xu San, as the West Heavenly Master, had at that moment stood out to contend for military power for Yu Jing Shan, he would have faced this knife head-on!

Just thinking of this, he unknowingly broke out in a cold sweat.

Only when the emperor put down the slaughter knife did he feel that mountain-like, sea-like, suffocating danger.

Not only him, Xu San?

Who in the hall was not secretly shocked? Regardless of whether one was involved, that terrifying feeling of life and death depending on the monarch's single thought was inescapable for anyone.

"All ministers rise! Our said today that all secular rites are exempt, only emphasizing state affairs."

The Jing Emperor personally presided over all court matters today, displaying an unstoppable determination in his consistently unhurried manner.

Completely different from his past gentle breeze and fine rain style, he did not delegate anyone to take charge, like personally leading troops in armor, raising the flag with the posture of a charger rather than a judge —

Because except for him, no one could bear such a huge responsibility.

Just like only he could face the Yi Zhen Yi Tui controlled by Zong Dezhen, and he also just waved his sleeve and personally welcomed it.

"Now Our will discuss the fifth thing."

The emperor said slowly: "As all ministers know, the former great palm teacher of Yu Jing Shan, Zong Dezhen, secretly served as the head of the Yi Zhen Dao and plotted to overthrow the country. He has already been executed. Yu Jing Shan is the holy land of the Dao Gate, the ancestral court of Dao cultivation. Countless talents of the central empire receive education there, and even Our ancestors once sought the Dao on this mountain! Such a great teaching cannot be without a master for a single day. Since Our personally slew Zong's remaining will, personally lifted Yi Zhen Yi Tui, resolved the inquiry of the Shan Hai Dao Master, and repelled the coercion of the gods of the original heaven, Our cannot but worry about Yu Jing —"

"They all say that one person's plans are short. Although Our hand covers transcendence and Our martial arts surpass Yi Zhen, Our will inevitably have oversights."

He looked towards the hundred officials in the hall: "All ministers, who do you think should succeed such a great position?"

At this time, from the ranks of the ministers, a young man like a jade tree walked out, standing in the wind: "This minister has a memorial!"

This person's official rank was actually not high, only the captain of the first team of the Jing Shi Tai Jing Wei.

But he was a direct descendant of the famous Pei family of Zhengtian, a first-rate talent of the younger generation, and the nephew of the disaster-killing commander Pei Xinghe.

He also had considerable weight in this court hall.

"Speak." The emperor was concise.

Pei Hongjiu was not timid at all and said loudly: "This foolish one thinks that Lou Daojun can take on this duty!"

"Lou Daojun is a direct transmission of Yu Jing Shan's orthodox lineage, cultivating the 'Hun Dong Tai Wu Yuan Gao Shang Yu Xu Zhi Qi,' the fundamental chapter of 'Hun Dong Tai Wu Yuan Yu Qing Zhang.' He has become the orthodox 'Yuan Shi Da Dao Jun' of Yu Jing, which is correct in terms of name and division. Lou Daojun was formerly a Dong Zhen, the first true person of Zhongzhou, and now a Daojun, whose future prospects are fully worthy of expectation. This is correct in terms of cultivation. Lou Daojun has served the Dao Country for many years, successively holding the positions of Dao Tai Si head, military affairs pivot envoy, and imperial edict vice commander. He is skilled in both civil and military affairs, capable of governing and fighting. This is correct in terms of governing merit!"

His bowing action was pleasing to the eye: "With these three correct aspects, besides him, who else can take the great position of Yu Jing?"

Indeed...

Pei Xinghe had already thoroughly sided with the imperial family.

Xu San guarded his line of sight and no longer glanced around.

Perhaps there were people in the central great hall who did foolish things, but there were no true fools.

The complex branches of the vast empire had already screened those stupid ones outside the hall.

Pei Hongjiu's memorial was like a spark thrown into a pot of oil, instantly igniting a raging fire!

The hall was enthusiastic for a time, with each person coming out to give a memorial, all saying how appropriate Lou Yue Daojun was, how suitable he was, as if he were a wise lord rarely seen in Yu Jing Shan for ten thousand years, a high talent not seen in the Dao Gate since ancient times. At this critical moment of the holy mountain's decline, it was truly none other than him! Besides him, any other person sitting in this position would not be convincing and would be very unfair.

Zong Zheng Si Qing Ji Yumin sat alone in front of the hall, with Lou Yue standing quietly behind him. As the de facto protagonist of today's court discussion, it was not appropriate for him to say anything at this time. It was best to quietly wait for the result.

The emperor also listened quietly to these speeches, seemingly falling into deep thought, then asked: "Our did not expect the opinions of all ministers to be so unanimous — but will Lou Daojun not be too young?"

"Precisely, the young should replace the old and decayed!"

The divine strategy commander Xian Nan Kui, whose injury had not yet healed, remonstrated indignantly: "Is Zong Dezhen old? What use was he to Yu Jing Shan, what use was he to the Dao Country, what use was he to the common people of the world? He was utterly useless! The old and decayed are harmful! Lou Daojun has advanced to True Monarch with the cultivation of the first true person of Zhongzhou. He should replace Zong Dezhen, cut off all decayed intentions, and pioneer a new style!"

Ji Yumin touched his nose.

North Heavenly Master Wu Dao You stroked his beard.

And the Jing Emperor only slightly lowered his eyes: "The world trusts Lou Jun, and Our is still inevitably uneasy. After all, he is the palm teacher of the holy mountain, the positive source of the Dao sect —"

He shifted his line of sight: "What do the Heavenly Masters think?"

He asked about the Heavenly Masters, but his eyes looked at Yu Xi.

Naturally, no one was so insensitive as to speak, and silence seemed to always solidify around Yu Xi.

Under the emperor's gaze, this existence, who was the most luxuriously dressed among the four Heavenly Masters and the most willing to display dignity, finally raised his eyes: "This old man thinks that Lou Daojun taking on this duty indeed has correctness in terms of name and division, correctness in terms of cultivation, and correctness in terms of governing merit. Taking great responsibility at an age under a hundred is indeed an unprecedented phenomenon in hundreds of generations —"

"However, the great palm teacher of Yu Jing Shan is a prominent name of the profound sect, the leader of the Dao pulse. This position concerns ten thousand ancient times and links a thousand autumns. This position should not only consider the opinions within the Dao Country but also the opinions outside the Dao Country. Our own people's support is certainly very important, and the attitudes of the Dao Gate's enemies also cannot be ignored."

He sat upright there and asked leisurely: "Does not know how the Seven Hate Demon Lord will view this matter?"