Dao Equaling the Heavens
Chapter 80 - 80 71 The World Turns Against Us

80: Chapter 71: The World Turns Against Us 80: Chapter 71: The World Turns Against Us “Sanqing Daoist Sect won?”

Wenren Wu, injured and lying beside the pill furnace, could hardly believe the news he heard.

Not to mention Yun Miao, the Venerable who fought dozens of people single-handedly, could the Sanqing Daoist Sect really defeat the entire Cultivation World alone?

The Lord Emperor was applying medicine for him; with neither sorrow nor joy, he said, “The Sanqing Daoist Sect has always been unrivaled in the world, whether it’s Yun Miao, Huayang, or even some of those old timers, all have already reached the pinnacle of the Fourth Realm.”

“Moreover, they only temporarily have the upper hand; more people will come later.

If those great powers who do not entangle with the sect directly enter the Immortal Land, how many could they possibly stop?”

This was the confidence behind his deal with the sect; the Lord Emperor believed in the weight of the name Qingcang.

Those who have entered once generally wouldn’t think of entering this cursed place a second time.

The fact that Wenren Wu could fight a junior showed his mettle, and it would be no surprise if one of the top talents on the Three Rankings died on the spot.

True Monarchs are not to be trifled with outside, and inside it’s not unheard of for chaos to kill a master with wild punches.

They were all great powers who had made their names and reigned for a thousand years; most of them were very cautious with their lives.

Moreover, realms that were unattainable in the past would yield the same results if tried again; the benefits were not worth the risks.

However, Qingcang could draw out many old timers, remnants of the great war of that time.

“However, the one who is coming is Yun Miao, which clearly indicates he has made another breakthrough and is even more advanced than Huayang; this too is a change.”

The Lord Emperor’s face showed contemplation.

It seemed as if the Longevity Pill was about to be completed; boundless cause and effect pressed down towards him from the invisible world, with changes unceasing and anomalies abounding.

This was also the case for Yu Hua who sought the Immortality Pill; nothing would go as she wished, and certainly not as the sect wished.

Wenren Wu exclaimed in surprise, “There’s still room for breakthrough at the peak of the Fourth Realm?”

“Not in terms of the realm, but closer to ‘Immortal.’ It is foreseeable that Huayang is inferior to Yun Miao; Yun Miao has achieved Dao Foundation Perfection at the Eighth Level, while Huayang is behind by one level, and between each level of Dao Foundation lies a whole sky; Perfection places one beyond the heavens, an insurmountable gap.”

The Lord Emperor glanced at the pill furnace, his usually serene eyes unusually fervent.

“I am at the same level as Yun Miao, but we both lack one level of Perfection; if I do not remedy this, I may never become an Immortal in this life.”

Wenren Wu’s face showed a bitter expression; he was only at Third Level Perfection, and his Dao Foundation was merely at the Eighth Level.

Achieving Dao Foundation is as difficult as ascending to the heavens, while Dao Foundation Perfection is like pushing a colossal boulder up the path to heaven.

He himself had been a military prodigy of his generation, and like Gu Wen, was capable of manifesting a dharma form; but in the end, he had stopped at the Eighth Level of Dao Foundation, achieving Perfection in just three of them.

The Lord Emperor took out a Golden Core, its spirit charm restrained, with the aura of the pill like a dragon.

“This pill can help you achieve Perfection in another level of your Dao Foundation, but this might be the last time you can take it; any more would be ineffective.”

Wenren Wu received the pill, unsure whether he was pleased or anxious.

To be stopped on the path to the Dao is utterly aggrieving!

At this moment, a guard hastily entered from outside the palace, bearing a document adorned with chicken feathers.

It’s known as a chicken feather document, which signifies urgency; hen feathers are attached to it to indicate it should be delivered swiftly.

The Lord Emperor opened it, glanced at it, and casually passed it to Wenren Wu, who twitched at the corner of his mouth after scanning it.

“Truly bold as brass; in such circumstances, they still have the mind to plunder official ships.”

Now the opposition was fully wanted by Daqian, with a bounty as high as ten thousand taels of silver.

For the various sects, an offer of a Taoist Soldier was promised, and some old monsters holding grudges against Qingcang would also come knocking.

Daqian was exerting its national power to hunt them down, with the Three Religions and myriad schools joining the pursuit.

Revealing his own location was to court death.

The Lord Emperor shook his head, “He is very shrewd, the safest place in the world is only when one has overwhelming power; until then, everything else is illusionary.

Hiding is to preserve life, rampaging through the world is to be invincible.”

“Then let us settle it in one fell swoop.” Wenren Wu, dragging his battered body, stood up, his aura filled with murderous intent, “Lead ten thousand elite soldiers to trample over, even if it shortens my lifespan, I must see him perish.”

The Lord Emperor nodded slightly, “Go, and when the time comes, I will help you hold off the Heavenly Girl for a moment.”

“As you command.”

Wenren Wu left the grand hall, and before stepping through the great doors, another messenger guard hastened into the imperial palace, bringing news, “Report!

Your Majesty, Zechuan County has fallen in battle, Minister of War Yuan Xiangchun has died in combat.”

The grand hall fell silent, the Lord Emperor sighed, “The affairs of the world are ever-changing, the secrets of heaven unpredictable, go and quell the rebellion.”

Wenren Wu, somewhat reluctantly said, “Gu Wen, this youngster, can refine his dharma form and Divine Skills amidst battle, he must not be left alive, Your Majesty.”

Methods of refining dharma form and Divine Skills are many and varied, learning to refine them amid battle is not unexpected, but Gu Wen learns too quickly.

“Zechuan unrest, and the whole world follows suit.”

The Lord Emperor knew the importance of the two; while Gu Wen may have a high talent, it is just that, talent.

No one could be sure of future achievements, but rebellion unquelled means the whole world will revolt.

One is a future threat, the other an axe poised to fall on one’s head.

“Understood.”

Wenren Wu bowed to receive the orders, then marched out of the imperial palace, took command of the military power outside of the imperial guard, and once again conscripted laborers.

Then there came another wave of wailing from Bianjing city, as countless male workers were dragged from their homes, some even captured by government officials right on the street.

Even large households weren’t spared; government officials came knocking to impose more taxes, and even scholar-official families could not escape.

Through pooling resources, an army of one hundred and fifty thousand was raised, the vast majority being laborers responsible for supply logistics.

The real force was an elite ten thousand returned from the frontier.

—————–

On the Qian River.

As soon as Gu Wen boarded, he was immediately spotted by the Grand Treasury Department’s guard, surrounded by a dozen knife-wielding government officials clad in chainmail, each looking robust, likely recruited from the imperial guard.

In ancient times, having armor made a significant difference.

These dozen or so men were enough to deter gangs of bandits consisting of hundreds, even thousands, from moving rashly.

Not every bandit was a hero of Liangshan, most were just starving vagrants with pitchforks; kill a dozen or so, and the rest would scatter.

After all, the Grand Treasury Department was tasked with collecting Spiritual Objects for the Emperor, so their personnel and equipment being excellent was understandable.

Otherwise, how to deal with being robbed?

Gu Wen condensed water into a spear and said, “This poor Daoist seeks only wealth, not lives.”

Now penniless, he was but a poor Daoist; with money, he would be a lord.

The surrounding government officials widened their eyes at this divine skill, then exchanged glances of bewilderment, and finally laid down their weapons.

A small-eyed eunuch emerged from a corner, clamoring, “Don’t be fooled by the tricks of this demonic Daoist.

These are tribute items required by the Saint Emperor; if they’re lost, you’ll all lose your heads!”

Bang!

The water spear flew out, piercing directly through the eunuch’s body and pinning him against the mast.

The eunuch’s eyes bulged wildly, his mouth spat fresh blood, and he screamed briefly before falling silent.

Silence!

Benevolent to others, Gu Wen said to the surrounding officials, “According to Daqian’s laws, resisting against overwhelming odds can be regarded as a meritorious deed.”

To fail to guard the court’s items meant beheading; if this rule were applied, nearly every official in charge of transport would meet death.

Given the inevitable losses in ancient transportation and the societal certainty of bandits in Daqian.

Even though Daqian was currently in turmoil, it was still considered enlightened and peaceful compared to other feudal dynasties, with neither cruel officials nor harsh laws.

Understanding his point, the officials dropped their weapons one after another, and then the leader stepped forward and asked, “What might the Immortal Master desire?”

“Medicinal tribute items.”

“Please follow me, Immortal Master.”

Gu Wen followed the man into the somewhat dim cabin, cramped and filled with goods.

Before he could stoop to inspect, a blade came swinging from behind him.

The blade’s icy gleam sought life, aiming a slash at the throat; a strike could easily sever a head from a flesh-and-blood body.

Gu Wen had no interest in testing the power of his protective Daoist skill; he turned and smashed a fist into one man’s skull, grabbed the sword and decapitated another.

The obstructing officials, seeing this, charged forward with fierce glints in their eyes, but none could withstand a single move from Gu Wen.

Heads rolled to the ground, tumbling side to side with the rocking of the ship.

Soon, all the officials aboard were dead.

A few jumped ship and fled; Gu Wen, not minding the trouble, disembarked to sink them one by one in the river.

Only three boatmen remained, who, upon seeing Gu Wen return, knelt and kowtowed for mercy.

It took a while to comfort them before the three boatmen could barely communicate and agreed to help find the tribute for him.

While the boatmen were moving goods, Gu Wen felt the Jade Pendant in his pocket repel his extended mana with a pop, which made him wince and say, “After exerting so much effort, it doesn’t serve this lord?”

Once out of danger, Gu Wen first thought of the Jade Pendant, rumored to contain a Taoist Soldier.

His Xuan Heavy Spear, hardly warmed by use before it broke, and Wenren Wu’s attacks had aimed mostly for it in hopes of capturing him alive.

And this Taoist Soldier was clearly not easy to refine; Gu Wen thought he needed to get some Emperor’s Jelly.

He had inquired about Emperor’s Jelly; his target was one of the tribute items from Heavenly Spring Water.

Originating from Luo River County, situated between South Water County and Qianjing County, and lying in Daqian’s central part, its handicrafts and commerce were extremely prosperous.

“Immortal Master, your items.”

The boatmen carried out box after box of goods and opened them one by one, containing silver, herbs, silk, and porcelain.

Gu Wen grabbed a handful of silver and tossed it to them, saying, “This is a reward for you, about a dozen taels each.

More, and you couldn’t carry it securely.”

The three boatmen hesitated.

Wouldn’t accepting it mean they were colluding?

The thought was fleeting.

Not everyone had the chance to collude, and they hadn’t been paid as government laborers!

One after another, without exception, they pocketed the silver.

Their fear of Gu Wen was washed away by the silver, and even a hint of admiration began to appear.

One of them plucked up the courage to ask, “May I know the benefactor’s name?”

“When did I become your benefactor?” Gu Wen said with a smile.

The boatman, young and strong, said respectfully, “The only male in my family, I was conscripted for forced labor and know not when I can return home.

Without the benefactor killing them, my elderly mother might have starved to death.”

“Here’s ten more taels for you.”

Amused, Gu Wen threw another ten taels and replied, “My surname is Gu, with a single name, Wen.

The old Emperor intended to pass the throne to me.

Today, I’m just collecting some interest.”

“…”

The boatman couldn’t contain himself.

He wanted to call Gu Wen a hero like those in the martial arts world, but Gu Wen spoke of becoming Emperor, and he didn’t know how to respond.

“Alright, dock the boat and get off.”

The boat neared the shore, and the three boatmen jumped out.

Gu Wen turned to search through the tribute items, unconcerned about a few innocent civilians escaping causing any trouble.

Reporting to the authorities risked being implicated, and considering the speed of information transmission in ancient times, the imperial soldiers would arrive long after he had fled.

This was why bandits existed in ancient times, yet now could hardly escape the province.

Rapidly enhancing one’s strength was fundamental, and the Fate Diagram could only be fulfilled by plundering.

A box of Spiritual Medicine, random and unrecognized herbs.

Gu Wen stuffed them into his mouth, holding a mandate token he had taken from the eunuch.

“Urgent dispatch over a thousand miles, and this place isn’t close to Zechuan?”

He read the message and was momentarily stunned.

“Lin Chuan County rebelled; the Prefectural Governor was killed by the rebels, and the army was defeated.”

Centered around Bianjing, Zechuan lay nearby, and beyond it was Lin Chuan.

There had been talk due to issues in Zechuan; only through South Water and Luo River counties could medicinal fruits from Lin Chuan come.

Meaning, this urgent dispatch from a remote area, sent over a thousand miles, was intercepted by him.

And Daqian remained oblivious, even as Lin Chuan had fallen.

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