Chapter 2542: Wine and Song

If the Ten Halls Yanluo accept the East Country’s imperial decree, then the Underworld and Qi Country will have a nominal subordinate relationship. Name is power, and it signifies the division between ruler and minister.

Yang Xuance was already considering chopping off his own leg, unable to understand why he had walked into the hall!

After taking refuge, what kind of power would he gain? Where was the promised freedom?

He was formerly a prince of Yang Country, a subject of Qi Country, everything serving Linzi. He had to follow every campaign and pay tribute every year. He watched his family’s country being slowly devoured. The Yang clan resisted for generations, but none succeeded. Finally, their country was swallowed, and dozens of generations of state and altars became three counties of Qi Country.

He had wandered and fled for years, finally managing to grasp what seemed like a substantial thigh. Yet, the front foot had joined the Yanluo Treasure Hall, becoming the Great Monarch Equal King of the Nine Halls Yanluo, and the back foot, Ksitigarbha, was saying that they still had to receive Qi Country's imperial decree?

How was that different from Yang Country?

Going around in circles, he was back to the starting point. Fate was simply an absurd joke!

Formerly, he served Qi with his clan; now he served Qi with ghosts and gods. Seas turned into mulberry fields, years cycled, and yet his original intention remained unchanged. All that awaited was another extinction!

Of course, calmly speaking, there were differences.

The Yang Country emperor was nominally independent, with a master of the so-called state and altars, but in reality, it was very difficult not to be influenced by the will of Qi Country. Who was wise, who was foolish, who was qualified to inherit the great throne... Every change of imperial throne was a story of treacherous waves. Truly talented and ambitious princes not only had to win over their own brothers and sisters...

The Yanluo Great Monarch nominally had to receive the East Country’s imperial seal, but this divine position was an eternal proof, not replaced every hundred years. Although Qi Country had the name, the scope of interference was actually not large.

Another point was that Yang Country had no ground for resistance against Qi Country. It could only be peeled open layer by layer, exposing its increasingly weak underbelly.

The Underworld, however, had a true transcendent like Ksitigarbha, who could fully guarantee independent autonomy.

But this was still vastly different from what Yang Xuance had imagined.

He felt he had been deceived!

"This poor monk was born to alleviate calamities, vowing to save the suffering human world. I am unwilling to provoke karma through strife, nor do I intend to offend Your Majesty, the respected Emperor." Ksitigarbha spoke with abnormal kindness: "Though Yin and Yang are separate, ghosts and gods still respect the East Emperor; though the Underworld is established, the Yanluo are only called 'King'. I must make the Underworld exhaust the Qi system to honor the East Son of Heaven."

Although Jiang Shu was finding fault, Ksitigarbha had already naturally responded as a negotiation, entering into substantive interest communication, indicating that upon the establishment of the Underworld, the Ten Halls Yanluo would accept the East Country's imperial seal. Both sides would henceforth form a political alliance.

"Frankly, the Underworld is poor and barren, difficult to serve Your Majesty with honor. Thereafter, all heavens cycle, benefiting East Qi's longevity."

Ksitigarbha's words bloomed like lotuses, one by one: "You are the Son of Heaven in the Yang world and also the Son of Heaven in the Yin world, having already obtained the crown of the two principles and now witnessing the seal of the six directions heaven - the present world is boundless, already in your grasp, ancient and modern are vast, none share this honor!"

The heaven wind seemed still, and the sea waves also submitted.

Jiang Shu held the halberd suspended in the air, seemingly embracing the great sun into his bosom, pondering slightly: "Ancient wealth moves hearts, let alone the world! I -"

"What - just chatting, huh?" Ji Fengzhou's voice rang out in a timely manner.

Above this blue sea, a heavenly staircase had been erected at some point. Suppressing Ping rules chaos flow, spanning time-space barriers, it naturally extended into the Underworld.

Ji Fengzhou thus leisurely descended from a high place. Although he held a ritual sword in his hand and wore a crown on his head, exuding great majesty, as if the legendary Heaven Emperor had descended to the world, his voice was as warm and moist as spring rain, bringing unprecedented ease to this island reef: "I'm not disturbing you all, am I?"

Just as Ksitigarbha had said in the Underworld, these two esteemed emperors were the supreme power holders of the state system, accustomed to schemes and intrigues, and the treachery of human hearts. Playing tricks with them was completely meaningless. Ksitigarbha also did not plan to waste precious time.

It only stated facts, and what it offered was naked self-interest!

It was absolutely verifiable promises, completely traversable paths.

Although the Yanluo Great Monarch was only the nominal master of the Yanluo Treasure Hall. It, this honored Yanluo, bowing to the Buddha, was truly holding the existence of the Underworld. And constructing the cycle with the Underworld as the foundation was Its eternal proof and eternal provision.

But the imperial seal Yanluo rights were still incomparably precious, a piece of heart flesh carved out to open the door of the Underworld to the Son of Heaven of Qi!

After repeatedly confirming Jiang Shu's power, It then frankly shared the Underworld's authority. Whether Jiang Shu borrowed the Underworld to strengthen Qi Country or planned to gradually devour the Underworld in the future, at least today, It had to pull Jiang Shu to Its side.

Realistically speaking, today's Qi Country, having swallowed South Xia and annexed the East Sea, was in its absolute zenith, a time of extreme prosperity, its national potential could be called terrifying. If it gained the support of the Underworld, the future was indeed unimaginable.

To say it "saves a hundred years of effort" would be an understatement of the significance of this matter.

Jiang Shu laughed heartily: "I have very deep feelings for the Central Son of Heaven, yet not so shallow that a little profit can divide us -"

"This poor monk will interrupt once." Ksitigarbha said seriously: "This is not the first time the two esteemed ones have met in their true bodies, is it? Still saying what three meetings and then see..."

"We have met before in dharma images, and our divine intercourse has been long!" Ji Fengzhou stood on the heavenly staircase and laughed lightly, meaningfully: "Everyone in the temple says to usually burn incense; it's not necessarily good to make friends temporarily, monk!"

Ksitigarbha did not argue with him.

Of course, this was not to say that Ji Fengzhou was not worthy of Its respect.

But It understood that It and Ji Fengzhou had no common ground for negotiation.

Ji Fengzhou was forced to mobilize the country's power and personally lead the imperial palace in conquest, killing his way here. It was absolutely impossible for him to go back with a result from peace talks.

Ksitigarbha did not resist the halberd on its shoulder, only raising its eyes to look at Jiang Shu: "If the East Son of Heaven finds it difficult to weigh for a while, it is better to temporarily reside in this esteemed position and observe."

"The Jing Son of Heaven attacked a true body and was wounded; this poor monk also suffered heavy injuries from the battle. It is already sunset and the sky is falling, difficult to continue!"

Its thunderous voice showed respect: "Those fellows have no way to retreat, only death awaits. Your Majesty comes and goes freely, a hero in the world. This poor monk has long been suppressed by the Central Kingdom and already shares no sky with the Jing Emperor; likewise, there is no road to retreat. Your Majesty rules the East Sea, why not sit on the mountain and watch the tigers fight, trying to please a transcendent to play for the monarch? Wait for this poor monk and him to decide life and death, and then you leisurely choose. This way, you do not lose the complete state and cherish your esteemed body!"

Ji Fengzhou laughed: "Monk! In vain are you a Buddha! Discussing such secret matters, not behind me, are you?"

Ksitigarbha said frankly: "Both are world-class heroes; without utmost sincerity, there is no way to interact!"

Its Buddha eyes turned lightly: "The Central Son of Heaven can also offer conditions. Let's see what you can give the East Son of Heaven. Empty words are of no benefit to us; after all, the Son of Heaven is for the country!"

Refusing Ksitigarbha was a very difficult thing.

Ksitigarbha's biggest characteristic was always to point directly to the truth and always offer real interests.

You knew that what It said was true and that the pie It drew could be realized!

And as the Son of Heaven of a country, it was indeed very difficult to have personal likes and dislikes; choices were often made based on national interests.

Ksitigarbha completely understood Ji Fengzhou's posture of mobilizing the country's power, but It was still unclear why Jiang Shu would come to help Ji Fengzhou - or rather, It only had a suspicion in Its heart but was unclear. So It continuously added bets, ruthlessly putting in capital, and had to let Jiang Shu see that the benefits of helping It far surpassed helping Ji Fengzhou.

Jiang Shu could help Ji Fengzhou, and he could also help It.

With a tilt in national interests, he would naturally make a choice in favor of Jiang Shu.

But Ji Fengzhou only laughed warmly and gently: "Monk, look, you're saying the wrong words again."

"Which sentence?" Ksitigarbha asked.

Ji Fengzhou held the ritual sword in his hand, the Buddha blood on the sword edge still dripping, sprinkling onto the heavenly staircase, just like this, step by step down: "What he wants, he doesn't want you to give. He wants to take it himself. The East Son of Heaven's ambition is in the six directions; everything under heaven is his, not yours. He doesn't need me to give him anything, and you don't have the qualification to give it to him either."

The greatest opponents on the path of the six directions were also the people who understood each other the most.

Ksitigarbha looked at Jiang Shu. This East Country Son of Heaven held the halberd suspended in the air, smiling without speaking.

"Indeed, hearts are like the sea, and the monarch's heart is especially hard to fathom!" Ksitigarbha sighed with some regret: "This poor monk is very unwilling to imagine this possibility, but the East Son of Heaven - are you truly plotting against me?"

Legend has it that on the day the World Honored One was born, he immediately walked seven steps each to the east, south, west, and north, and with his right hand pointing to the sky and his left hand pointing to the ground, he roared like a lion and said: "Heaven above, ground below, only I alone am honored."

This was the appearance of Shakyamuni's birth.

Ksitigarbha had always referred to itself as "this poor monk" in front of Jiang Shu, exhibiting Buddha's compassion for the world. After this word "I", it truly showed special merit, it truly showed majesty, it truly was a lion fighting a dragon, with a state of deciding life and death!

Because It increasingly discovered that Jiang Shu was not the role of an assisting fighter invited by Ji Fengzhou. On the contrary, it seemed that Jiang Shu had a firmer stance, and perhaps Ji Fengzhou had boldly personally conquered under the premise of knowing this firm stance!

Because when the Son of Heaven mobilizes the country's power, any plot must be far-reaching.

Mobilizing the country's power to fight a transcendent being is an abnormally terrifying consumption of national power.

Decades of operation can be squandered in one night.

This is still in a smooth situation. If it is not smooth and the war is prolonged, exhausting the country's power and destroying the foundation of hegemony in one battle is also not impossible.

Therefore, when the Son of Heaven mobilizes the country's power, he must be cautious and cautious. To personally conquer requires bravery in the world - this bravery does not mean daring to put everything on the gambling table, but shouldering the national destiny, hanging one's head on one's waist, bearing the heavy burden of the state and altars, and embracing the determination to win for the world.

Taking Chu Country as an example, Great Chu has been established for three thousand seven hundred years and has dominated the South Domain for three thousand seven hundred years. The number of times the Son of Heaven has mobilized the country's power in wars does not exceed ten fingers. Among the most famous are nothing more than three - Chu Taizu's mobilization of the country's power to fight Jing Wen Emperor, Chu Shizong's mobilization of the country's power to save Zuo Chao, and this most recent time, Chu Liezong's mobilization of the country's power to kill the Nameless One.

Qi Country is a rising hegemon, achieving hegemony only forty plus years ago. Among the six great hegemonic countries, its foundation is the shallowest. Jiang Shu should be more cautious in using national power.

Speaking of the consumption of national power, the most intuitive manifestation is that a strong near-sea governor like Ye Hen Shui, in governing the near-sea islands and actually ruling the East Sea, after obtaining huge governing merit, originally had the opportunity to reach the peak by official means. But after Jiang Shu's war, it will be delayed by at least ten years!

Unless this war wins more national power than it consumes.

For an empire as vast as Qi Country, with a territory of millions of people, national power is mainly used to maintain the normal operation of the official system. The promotion of all officials and the accumulation of merit for each title are all supported by national power. It is always generated, and it is always used. Once a huge deficit occurs, it will inevitably be reduced in helping to reach the peak of the official path.

Therefore, the East Country Son of Heaven's war must have a harvest.

Mobilizing the country's power and fighting without merit is defeat!

But even the support of the Underworld for Qi Country was not enough to shake the determination of the East Country Son of Heaven.

This explained that he wanted more.

Ksitigarbha looked at Jiang Shu again, no longer seeing an emperor who saw an opportunity and wanted to tear off a piece of meat and leave, but an East Country emperor sitting there holding a knife and wanting to divide the meat!

The former can be strived for; the latter can only be fought desperately against.

But what did this Great Qi Son of Heaven seek? What was it?

"This is truly a misunderstanding!" Jiang Shu's explanation had some seriousness and some casualness: "I built Wanghai Terrace not to target the Buddha, who intended that the Central Kingdom could escape Zen? How did I know when you would come into the world? Building this terrace, consolidating the East Sea, was nothing more than a layout for the future, for suppressing the sea border after the Shenziao battlefield is opened."

He laughed lightly: "But how could it be so coincidental that the Buddha just had to choose to create the Underworld in the East Sea, and your Yiluotianhe just happened to be here! Is this not the fate that your Buddhism often speaks of? When fate arrives, like the Buddha, like me, we actually cannot refuse!"

"Truly only fate?" Ksitigarbha's Buddha eyes at this moment spread out countless lines of karma, tracing back the river of time, seeking cause and effect to see the true scripture, grasping the reason for Jiang Shu's arrival: "The monarch speaks no lies. The East Country emperor may not deceive this poor monk."

Jiang Shu looked at It quietly, not laughing.

And at this moment, Ji Fengzhou stepped forward, the Buddha blood on the Son of Heaven's ritual sword already gone, received to his waist, and he spoke: "May the East Son of Heaven lend me a sword for a while."

Jiang Shu nodded lightly.

Rumble rumble rumble!

At the end of the world, there was a sea corner stele.

Its original body was personally refined by Ji Fengzhou, the eternal heaven stele desired to calm the sea, its name Chao Feng heaven stele.

Because of the defeat at sea, it was left in the near sea in exchange for the remnant forces of Jing Country in the East Sea to retreat back to the central domain without obstruction. Now, of course, it belonged to Qi Country, but only Ji Fengzhou could truly exert its power.

This time, it was pulled up empty and rose, actually becoming a sword in Ji Fengzhou's hand.

"I hear that Buddhas of ancient and modern times will only be proven after ten thousand kalpas. They first receive the world's suffering and then resolve the world's calamity. Now is a big test for the monk; no open books allowed!" Ji Fengzhou's eyes were as if picking up sword light: "In front of me, you still want to cheat twice, huh?"

He then grasped this sea corner sword and swept it horizontally through the air!

Whoosh whoosh whoosh!

The tide of time collapsed into surging waves, and the karma book shattered like flying butterflies!

Ksitigarbha's Buddha eyes were dyed with golden blood, and its Brahma body trembled for a moment, whoosh whoosh!

The Jing Emperor's sword cut karma, preventing Ksitigarbha from previously peeking again!

Whoosh whoosh!

Tianhe water flipped endlessly, and among them were two drops, especially round and different, crystal clear with substance.

At the key moment when the infinite karma lines were gradually collapsing, they suddenly pierced out of the Underworld. One drop went towards the southwest, and one drop flew towards the northwest.

Within the Underworld, three honored transcendents stood opposite each other; time and space were already confused.

Outside the Underworld, the present world was still moving forward in positive order.

Qin Guang Wang and Chu Jiang Wang were still walking shoulder to shoulder on the sea.

A drop of Tianhe water skimmed over their heads, suddenly disappeared, and then returned -

In this instant of sudden hiding and sudden appearance, it had already pierced ten thousand waters and a thousand mountains.

The drop of water became a raging wave, as if a piece of the sea.

Within the water drop, there was a monk who was laughing heartily and had bright eyes!

This monk was already infinitely small, a mustard seed in a drop of water. However, his golden body was solid, and his bones had the sound of thunder, like the rumbling of the five organs of an ancient giant beast.

At this moment, it was exactly the key moment when the Chu Emperor abdicated, the new monarch ascended, Huang Wei Zhen had already left, and there was temporarily no transcendent combat power in Yunxian Forest!

With just one thought from Ksitigarbha in the Underworld, the newly promoted Great Chu National Teacher Fan Shi Jue was tied by karma and imprisoned in a drop of water.

And the moment this drop of water crossed the empty space, everything within the Underworld continued to happen.

Facing Ksitigarbha tracing back the river of time and pursuing karma, the Jing Son of Heaven chose to cut it with one sword. Jiang Shu only slightly lifted his chin, instantly high above, not allowing it to come near: "I am already tired of laughing."

He held the halberd with one hand and pressed forward.

Torrential Tianhe water suddenly submitted like a white dragon!

"The Central Son of Heaven says there is no wine and no song, but I don't think so -"

The Fangtian ghost god halberd emitted a rumble louder than the Tianhe: "Why not use Buddha blood as wine and Zen cries as song!"

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