"The Great Ming Dynasty... Our ancestors watch over us..."
Zhang Juzheng had never imagined that one day, those words would sound so ironic. But he understood Crown Prince Wanli’s meaning:
Emperor Jiajing would rather be the strongest man in the world than a celestial immortal.
This was a secret of the imperial family, something a mere official like him shouldn’t have heard.
Zhang Juzheng lowered his head, remaining silent.
Wanli glanced at him, sensing his hesitation, but didn’t press him.
“This subject is here.”
“I intend to restore the Great Ming’s glory. You will assist me.”
“Your Majesty’s command is this subject’s greatest honor. But to eliminate the Yan faction, Your Highness and Junior Grand Secretary Xu's influence is still weak. I fear…”
A rustling sound interrupted Zhang Juzheng’s words of caution. He watched as Wanli squatted down and scooped up a handful of dirt from the tomb.
After ten thousand years, the dirt within the tomb was more than just dirt.
The blood and flesh of the Xia Dynasty officials buried here, their remains had long since mixed with the earth.
Wanli kneaded the dirt in his hands. Gradually, it seemed to come alive.
“Your Majesty, what are you doing?”
Zhang Juzheng was astonished. A bold guess formed in his mind, but he couldn't bring himself to voice it.
“Nüwa’s secret technique: Molding Humans from Clay.”
Those words, spoken casually, yet carrying an undeniable aura of dominance, sent a shiver down Zhang Juzheng’s spine!
Wanli molded the dirt into the shape of a small figure, then placed it on the ground. The dirt surrounding the tomb flowed towards the figure, causing it to grow larger and larger. Within moments, the clay figure had transformed into a nine-foot-tall giant.
From dirt, flesh and blood were born!
Zhang Juzheng stared at the giant. His physique was strong and imposing, every muscle brimming with spiritual energy.
The giant’s cultivation level was at least at the first rank of the Unity Realm!
This was inconceivable!
To create a human from clay, and a Unity Realm expert at that?
This was Nüwa’s secret technique?
If Wanli could use it without limitations, who in the world could possibly challenge him?
“Your body contains the flesh and blood of Guan Long Pang and the other Xia Dynasty officials. You will serve me with the same loyalty, for all eternity. I bestow upon you the name: Houyi.”
As Wanli finished speaking, the giant knelt before him.
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“Long… live… the Emperor…”
Houyi, recently transformed into a human, still struggled to speak.
“Zhang Juzheng, you said my power was too weak?”
Zhang Juzheng felt a chill run down his spine. He could sense Houyi's gaze upon him. The giant’s eyes were filled with killing intent.
What a terrifying man!
Zhang Juzheng’s cultivation was higher than Houyi’s, and yet, he was terrified by his aura!
First-rank Unity Realm?
Houyi’s potential was far greater than that.
Wanli’s question demanded an answer.
Zhang Juzheng gritted his teeth. “Since Your Majesty lost all of your personal guards at Mount Yunmeng, Emperor Jiajing hasn’t provided you with any new troops.”
“Hah! If they are my personal guards, why would I need Jiajing to grant them to me? If they were his gift, would I even consider them worthy?”
Zhang Juzheng was stunned. The Great Ming army was under Emperor Jiajing’s control. Without the Emperor's approval, how could Wanli possibly raise an army of his own?
Wanli seemed to see through his thoughts.
“Have you not heard the saying, ‘Loyal bones are buried everywhere?’”
He didn't wait for a response. He raised his hand above his head, clenching his fist.
A vast amount of dirt, like a tidal wave, came towards the Tomb of King Jie on Tongshan. As it reached the foot of the mountain, the dirt transformed into countless small figures.
The figures grew flesh, blood, and hair, becoming human beings with different appearances and physiques.
“This… what is this…?”
Zhang Juzheng stared in shock. He used his spiritual sense to scan the crowd, confirming their numbers: three thousand.
And their cultivation level: first-rank Divine Transformation!
Three thousand Divine Transformation experts?!
Each one of them, in the Great Ming army, would be a highly respected officer.
“Three thousand soldiers of the Xia Dynasty. They are worthy of serving as my personal guard. My esteemed official, is my power still inadequate?”
Wanli seemed to enjoy shocking Zhang Juzheng.
After a long silence, Zhang Juzheng finally regained his composure. He sighed. There was nothing he could say.
“Does Your Majesty intend to take action immediately and eliminate the Yan faction?” he asked.
This time, Wanli shook his head.
“Hasn’t Jiajing prepared three hundred thousand Wolf Troops for me? I will retake Yunzhou first, then deal with Yan Song.”
It was a sound plan. To fall and rise again in the same place. Wanli had lost Yunzhou City. If he could personally recapture it, he would surely regain the respect of the Great Ming officials.
Looking at the fierce and powerful Houyi, and the three thousand Divine Transformation guards, even Zhang Juzheng believed that Wanli had a good chance of defeating the Three Kingdoms alliance.
“Let us depart.” Wanli said calmly. “Return to the Great Ming—Ah!?” He suddenly let out a groan of pain.
Zhang Juzheng was alarmed. Perhaps merging his past and present lives hadn't been a good idea.
“Will you sixteen ghosts be quiet? How dare you call me selfish?”
Wanli seemed to be speaking to himself.
“Emperor Danzhu is dead. The Shangjun Go Board is destroyed. My past life’s karma has been resolved. I spent a lifetime trapped in Nanchao. I fulfilled my duty as the Human Emperor. Now, I only wish to live for myself. Is that not allowed?”
Wanli reached his limit and couldn’t bear it anymore. He roared towards the heavens!
“I want to be a true Emperor! To rule the nine provinces! To enjoy life! Is that a crime?!”
Thunder rumbled in the sky above Nanchao, as if responding to Wanli’s outburst. Heaven and earth, man and ghost, their conflicts seemed irreconcilable.
But the thunder gradually subsided, and the clouds dispersed. Above Nanchao, only a clear blue sky remained.
“I have wronged no one.”
Wanli left those cryptic words behind, ignoring Zhang Juzheng’s bewildered gaze, and walked away.
Houyi and the three thousand Xia soldiers followed him.
In the Dragon God Palace, in Peng City, Fan Li was writing. A letter, a letter that had to reach Empress Yao Guang.
“This is ridiculous, Master,” Wu Gang said as she watched him. “You’re actually warning Empress Yao Guang that Bai Shijiu has been possessed by Danzhu? Will she believe you?”
Fan Li smiled faintly. “The hearts of emperors are difficult to fathom. Even their closest relatives and loved ones can be suspected.”
Wu Gang nodded, understanding his reasoning. Danzhu, having escaped from Nanchao, would surely head towards the Great Ci Dynasty.
Fan Li’s clone, in the Southern Ridge Mountains, couldn’t possibly catch up to him.
But the Great Chu Dynasty was closer to Great Ci.
Before Danzhu reached his destination, Fan Li's letter, delivered by Qing Qiu, would surely reach Empress Yao Guang’s desk.
“Master, are you certain Qing Qiu will agree?” Wu Gang asked.
“Don’t worry, she has nowhere else to go,” Fan Li replied with confidence.
Half a day later, in the Chao Ge Palace in the Great Ci Dynasty, Empress Yao Guang finished reading the letter and set it aside with a smile.
“Sister Qing Qiu, do you have other matters you wish to discuss?”
Qing Qiu nodded. “Yes, I…”
Before she could speak, a messenger arrived, announcing, “Sage Ruler Bai Shijiu has returned and requests an audience with Your Majesty.”