The scene of prosperity before my eyes was indeed extraordinarily magnificent, making it somewhat heartrending to imagine it shattered.
Many modern Donghuang people are fond of the Tang Dynasty, but what they love is not the so-called Tang culture.
Rather, it is because modern history was far too agonizing, whereas during the Great Tang, the entire nation possessed true prestige, power, and glory!
Who wouldn’t want to occupy the position of the Beautiful Country?
‘Hah, superficial. I feel the same way.’
Today was the Mid-Autumn Festival, and many famous generals and meritorious officials from the history of the Nine Provinces had come to attend the banquet.
They reminisced about the past when they conquered the world together.
Between clinking glasses, they teased one another about the white hairs growing in their beards, as if an entire lifetime had passed.
Cluru and I mingled with the crowd, asking everyone we met for dozens of autographs.
“Are you General Li Jing? I’ve admired you for a long time! Come on, Brother, give me an autograph!”
“Du Fu? The leader of Little Li’s fan club? I’ve admired you for a long time! Come on, Brother, give me an autograph!”
“Zhang Xu? Brother, give me an autograph… sign a few more, a bit more, write down a few poems… What? Swindling you for calligraphy? Not at all, I just want to leave a few more national treasures for this world.”
.
Wherever there is wool to be sheared, I will be there! Even if this sheep is about to die.
My premonition could not be wrong. Something was about to change, and it would overturn the entire world — not just a single mortal dynasty.
I recalled the words spoken by the Ancient Immortal lackeys.
Their goal was to be Correcting History.
They would let those who were supposed to die, die, and those meant for destruction, perish.
Once everyone was buried, they would return everything to the right track.
“Cluru.”
I pulled Cluru into the Box and looked at her seriously.
“Hm?”
“Tell me, if all these people die, should we save them?”
Without even thinking, Cluru said directly, “It depends on your mood. If you want to save them, then save them.”
It was a very carefree answer, which made me feel like I was the one being overly anxious about gains and losses.
“Don’t feel any psychological pressure. You don’t have any responsibility toward this world; we’re just here for a vacation. If something goes wrong, we’ll just run back home…”
“Ha, that’s true.”
This era was full of talent. With Jiang Ke’er and the others holding up the heavens, why was I worrying myself sick?
Let the music continue! Let the dancing go on!
.
The song and dance wine party lasted until late into the night.
The sky was pitch black, and a particularly bright moon hung in the air.
Most of the banquet guests were already dead drunk, lying scattered all over the courtyard in various states of disarray.
However, I had no desire to sleep.
“You all felt it too?”
I looked toward several people in the distance with some surprise.
A few others had not touched a drop of wine and remained clear-headed like us.
There were Lady Gongsun, Li Bai, and a General Pei Yan. Each of them held a long sword, gazing at the full moon, poised for action.
It looked as though they intended to slash the moon down. What did the moon ever do to them?
“The sword’s edge is wailing,” the three of them said, their faces filled with unease.
The danger they sensed was not as clear as mine; they simply felt a slight discomfort in their hearts.
“Oh, you all came too?”
Several streaks of light flew from the horizon. It was Jiang Ke’er and her group, descending upon the Imperial City.
“Here, the fine wine you wanted.” I stepped forward.
Situ and Xunfang’s side quest involved wanting fine wine as a reward. I had just gone to the imperial kitchen to snatch two jars.
The two women took the wine, their smiles full of hidden meaning. “Yunya’er Flower Brew? Where did this come from?”
“Naturally, I went through immense hardships to find it deep within an ancient secret realm!” I said with absolute conviction.
“…”
The two women did not expose me, and my side quest was considered complete.
Now, only one side quest remained — Qiao Xiaoxian had invited Cluru and me to join the Stellar Faction and wanted to take us for a tour. There was no rush for that.
“Is this the time predicted by Imperial Preceptor Yuwen?” Jiang Ke’er asked. “Is the final battle finally about to begin?”
“The wind is rising, the rain is coming. It certainly feels like it,” I replied.
Everyone’s nerves began to tighten. The night was deathly silent.
In the long wait, we remained until dawn, and finally, the main player made his entrance.
It truly was Imperial Preceptor Yuwen.
He was alone, no longer accompanied by the old friend who used to stand by his side.
“Little Yuwen…” I recalled the battles we fought together back then, and I still felt a pang of sadness. “Why… why exactly did you choose this path?”
However, this time, Imperial Preceptor Yuwen did not flee. Seeing me, he bowed respectfully.
“Old Boss, if I told you I did this for the Great Harmony — to ensure there is no more war in the world and no more selfishness in living beings — would you believe me?”
“I’d believe you,” I said seriously.
“But I’m not. I just want to rule everything.”
Imperial Preceptor Yuwen gave a simple smile.
“Jiang Ke’er, thank you for helping me gather the Nine Tripod Cauldrons.” Imperial Preceptor Yuwen looked toward her.
“Now, I shall let you know the true purpose of the Nine Tripod Cauldrons…”
Nine metal cauldrons of various colors flew high into the sky, and in the blink of an eye, they landed in various locations across the Nine Provinces.
I hoisted Cluru onto my back. “Let’s go. They’re about to fight.”
“…We’re not going to interfere? This is the final battle!”
“None of our business. It’s not our main quest. Our main quest was finished a long time ago.”
We slipped away.
They could fight however they wanted. I had stayed until now only to confirm that my premonition was correct. It indeed was.
Then, Cluru and I flew away. We flew back to the Taiming Sect and continued to be rookie Junior Sisters.
Life was peaceful and quiet. Unfortunately, that peace did not last for many days.
The war began.
“All Taiming Sect disciples, hear my command! The Tribulation Immortal remnants have returned to slaughter the Nine Provinces! As the leader of all sects in the world, our Taiming Sect must set an example and lead the charge!”
I didn’t know what had happened to those Tribulation Immortals, but their eyes were all bloodshot. They had all become madmen, killing everyone they saw. They didn’t even spare the commoners who had no cultivation!
In an instant, the entire world seemed to have returned to that era from ten thousand years ago. Human life was treated like grass.
“Everyone, the strength of these demonized Immortals is extremely powerful. Even if we put in twelve-tenths of our effort, it is very likely we will be sacrificed.”
During the pre-battle mobilization, Peak Lord Xuan Yang spoke candidly about the cruelty of the war.
“But it was like that last time, and the time before that. However, this time is different. If any of you die while fighting the demonized Immortals, you can report to the Realm of the Dead to receive the status of a Security Ghost Officer along with five insurances, a pension, and a death subsidy… So, everyone, charge bravely! Let those bastards witness the power of our Yihe Peak’s fists!”
“Ooooh! —”
It was clearly a grave matter involving the rise and fall of the world, yet the Peak Lord of Yihe Peak spoke of the suicidal charge as if it were a game. Perhaps that was the only way.
After all, the opponents this time were truly too absurd.
They were all the Immortals of the past, including both Ancient Immortals and Tribulation Immortals, and even Corpse Immortals that had been reassembled from broken pieces!
Imperial Preceptor Yuwen had truly prepared for this day for far too long. But what did he want? Was it really just to slaughter everyone in Shenzhou?
I couldn’t help but extend my Divine Sense toward the Imperial City, wanting to know how the battle between Jiang Ke’er and Imperial Preceptor Yuwen was going, and how things had reached such a state…
As a result, I directly saw two crystal coffins. Jiang Ke’er was lying inside one of them.