Chapter 1133 The Fourth Divine Prince
The tactical deployment of the Divine Capital had been repaired and perfected for countless years, and it contained a great mystery. It was said that it could trap an immortal. Since ancient times, only the God Emperor could possess the arraying formation map, and the commander of the army under his command could only master the formation map of one of the channels. However, if the God Emperor adjusted the distribution of the bronze mountains, he could turn the original valve into a dead end in an instant, which was much more reliable than any kind of defense like a solid city wall.
Ding Hao nodded and did not continue his observation.
This tactical deployment was indeed very magical. There was even a trace of chaotic Immortal Qi in it. Ding Hao felt the aura of an immortal, so he did not use the Seven Star-shaped Eyes of Fate to observe it rashly, lest some side effects of the tactical deployment should trigger and cause other changes. However, this tactical deployment aroused Ding Hao’s great interest. It was absolutely the best in both defense and attack. If he could control it and obtain the formation map, the Swordsmanship-seeking Sect would be able to stand erect forever.
Ding Busi stepped forward, showed a pale golden token, and said something to the guarding expert on the sentry post of the closest bronze mountain. Several sharp eyes swept over Ding Hao, Li Xiaofei, and the others. Then, a strange light flashed on the bronze mountain as it slowly changed position.
After that, they passed through hundreds of such bronze mountains in a row, and each time they were strictly inspected.
Ding Hao had originally thought that they had entered the Divine Capital, but he would not have expected that there were dense silver mountains like meteorite belts behind those bronze mountains, circling in the void. The mountains ahead were smaller than the bronze ones, but they moved in a more mysterious way, and their guardian power was obviously stronger.
After they passed through this silver mountain range, another golden mountain range appeared, meandering.
It took two hours for Ding Hao and the others to completely pass through the three layers of protection.
“During this period, there have been successive great changes in the Divine Capital. The place is strictly guarded, and it has been completely cordoned off. All sides have been sealed. The whole city has entered a state of war preparation, so people have to go in and out of the capital under strict inspection. Usually, it would not be so difficult to enter the Divine Capital,” Ding Busi explained.
Ding Hao nodded.
That would be reasonable.
If it was so complicated to go in and out of the Divine Capital at usual times, then the city would have become an isolated place. Outsiders couldn’t enter and it would be difficult for people in there to come out. Not to mention mobilizing the army, even issuing orders and dealing with merchants would be a problem.
“This is it,” Ding Busan said softly.
Ding Hao and Li Xiaofei looked around and could not help but exclaim.
In front of them was a beautiful place like a paradise. There were boundless lush mountains and clear rivers, floating peaks and waterfalls, white cranes flying in the air, and abundant Spiritual Qi. It was an extremely beautiful scenery. It was completely different from a place filled with high-rise buildings, fortresses, and divine statues that they had imagined. It was simply a natural landscape, and there were even fields and spiritual springs. The humans here were enjoying themselves. There were gray-haired old men with crutches walking leisurely, and young children chasing and playing in the farmland.
Occasionally, there were some watchtowers with high eaves inlaid between the mountains and rivers, which were full of an antique style. They were like pearls studded with natural scenery, which made this world appear more magnificent and full of vitality.
“The Divine Capital has a radius of one thousand miles. It’s not the largest city in the Land of Divine Grace with a population of less than one hundred million. It’s not considered the most populated one either.
“However, it has a unique charm. Anyone who has been here would have to admit that it is the most beautiful and magnificent city in the world. Even the envoys of the Feather Clan, the Beast Clan, and the Sea Clan are full of praise for it.”
Ding Busan said those words with a very proud tone.
He had been born and raised here, and he had lived here for most of his life. As a core member of the Ding family, although he had been fighting against the Fake God Emperor, he had a deep-rooted love for this city and was proud of being born in such a place.
Ding Hao was keenly aware of this.
He had to admit that he had also fallen in love with this city at this moment.
Everything in front of him made him think of a phrase involuntarily – the unity of heaven and human.
This phrase represented a realm of martial arts. When one reached the realm of unity of heaven and human, one would be able to connect the 108 apertures of the 12 meridians in one’s body and attain the realm of Martial Immortal. Therefore, the immortals were truly the beings that represented the unity of heaven and human.
It was obviously the first time for Li Xiaofei, the Commander of the Silver Snow Army, to come here, and he was a little stunned.
“Let’s go.”
Busan and Busi led the way as the group of people quickly headed forward.
Soon, Ding Hao found that everything here was not as simple as it seemed to be. The terrain of the Divine Capital was strange. The underground contained a great deal of power. It was a natural holy land. There were naturally formed dragon-veined tactical deployments. Obviously, the land had undergone artificial modification with the power that had been accumulated for countless years, and it was definitely not easy to achieve this. Even Ding Hao with his current strength felt shocked in the face of the hidden power underground. He was not sure if he could take it.
“No wonder Ding Honglei, Huo Jun, and the others have spent so much effort to trick the Fake God Emperor and Ding Tong out of the Divine Capital to end the battle in the Hungry Ghost Path. No wonder Ding Shengtan’s forces and the other Divine Sons of various sects have not been able to do anything to the Fake God Emperor all these years. Indeed, no one in the Divine Capital could be a match for the Fake God Emperor. As long as he was in the Divine Capital, no one in the entire Land of Divine Grace could possibly kill him!”
Ding Hao was lost in thought.
“But the Fake God Emperor was fooled for real at that time. He left the Divine Capital and took the risk alone. Was it fate? Did he just get unlucky?”
Before today, Ding Hao’s confidence had increased greatly because of the sharp increase in his strength. He didn’t care much about God’s Palace, but now it seemed that he had been neglectful. As a Divine Palace with a history of thousands of years, God’s Palace had a profound foundation and resources, which were far greater than what the River Palace and other forces had.
“Now the Divine Capital is in chaos. All the forces are in constant disputes, and the Divine Sons have their own plans. The God Emperor’s throne is vacant, but everyone who is qualified to take it is green-eyed. My father has returned to the capital, but it’s difficult for him to control the situation.” Ding Busi introduced the current situation in the Divine Capital while saying, “Little Brother, you can follow us back to the Divine Prince’s Mansion first. After that, my father will arrange for you to recognize your ancestors.”
…
Ding Xinghua’s Divine Prince’s Mansion was in the most prosperous area of the Divine Capital.
There were slightly more buildings here, and the streets were crowded with people. Although the atmosphere in the Divine Capital was quite solemn during this period, it did not affect the prosperity of this place. Many merchants and caravans were hawking their wares here, and some old shops that had existed for hundreds or even thousands of years were still open for business. All kinds of noise could be heard continuously.
The Divine Prince’s Mansion covered an area of nearly one thousand acres. There were rockeries, fountains, winding streams, ponds, strange stones, floating peaks, and flying pavilions. It was magnificent. It was surrounded by stone walls with inscription tactical deployments, which were more than ten meters high, like the white city walls. There were sentry posts every ten steps, each of which had an expert from God’s Palace in black armor guarding it.
In recent years, Ding Xinghua’s contradiction with the Fake God Emperor had almost been made public. Most of his power had been deprived, and he had almost lived in seclusion. Therefore, his mansion was only in the middle or lower scale compared with other mansions of the Divine Sons. Now that the Fake God Emperor had died, the atmosphere in the Divine Capital was tense, and the mansion was on high alert.
Ding Busan and Ding Busi took Ding Hao into the mansion.
“Hahaha, Hao, you’re finally here.” Ding Xinghua laughed and came out. He was in high spirits because of the happy event. The old Divine Prince seemed to be very happy and came out to welcome Ding Hao in person. Behind him were a beautiful middle-aged woman, guards, and maidservants.
“Nice to meet you, Uncle and Aunt.”
Ding Hao respectfully saluted.
“Haha, we’re a family. You don’t have to stand on ceremony.” Ding Xinghua was very happy and took Ding Hao’s hand to walk into the mansion.
The beautiful maidservants and some trusted guards around him also looked at Ding Hao curiously. These days, the Divine Prince had been frowning because of what had happened in the Divine Capital. Why was he so excited to see this young man? And according to what he had just said, was this young man also a member of the Ding family of the Divine Clan? Why had they never seen him before?
“Your residence has been arranged. I’ll let Busan and Busi take you there later. Come to the banquet first. I’ll have to introduce someone to you.” Ding Xinghua took Ding Hao to the main hall of the Divine Prince’s Mansion. The banquet had already been arranged here. When Evil Moon saw the food, it immediately drooled. The delicacy in the Divine Prince’s Mansion deserved its reputation. The fragrance was so tempting.
Ding Hao and the others took their seats.
Ding Busan and Ding Busi were obviously used to having the maidservants help take off their clothes and serve water. The living style of the high-ranking Ding family of the Divine Clan was indeed very luxurious. Ding Xinghua’s family was relatively frugal, but Ding Hao was still not used to the way they did things here.
“Meow. It tastes good.” Evil Moon, the Demon King, had begun to binge quickly. If Ding Hao had not pulled it aside, this carefully prepared banquet might have been swallowed up by the Fat Cat in an instant.
Ding Xinghua and others knew the status of the fat cat beside Ding Hao, and also knew its strength, so they naturally would not mind.
Just as Ding Hao was about to say something, he heard someone reporting outside the door. “The Fourth Divine Prince is here.”
Before the voice died away, a hearty laugh was heard, and then a mighty middle-aged man in a bright yellow robe came over with vigorous steps. As soon as he entered the main hall, his eyes fell on Ding Hao and he said with a smile, “Third Brother, is this handsome young man our poor nephew?”
“Fourth Brother, why are you here so late?” Ding Xinghua stood up with a smile and introduced them to each other.
This mighty middle-aged man was Ding Xingmu, the Divine Son who ranked fourth among the 13 princes in the past. He was also an important member of the Eldest Divine Prince’s faction. After the Fake God Emperor ascended the throne, Ding Xingmu and Ding Xinghua were also neglected and suppressed. They had not been in power over the years, but after all, they were the Divine Sons, so they surely had their own forces. Ordinary people could not compare with them at all. When the Fake God Emperor died, the Divine Sons who had been suppressed in the past began to rise powerfully.
“Greetings, Fourth Uncle.” Ding Hao saluted.
