At a large palace hall in the Han Royal Dynasty’s Borderless Heavenly Capital:
A zither puppet passed on a message.
“Informing all zither puppets of the Han Royal Dynasty. Inform all officials and all citizens. While we are not in the Han Royal Dynasty, I install Chen Tianshan, the Second Corps commander, as Duke Tianshan! He will be responsible for managing the Han Royal Dynasty. All officials and citizens, no matter who, are to obey Duke Tianshan’s commands. He will guard the Han Royal Dynasty for us until we return. No matter what happens, no matter what it is, Duke Tianshan will take charge of the nation if we do not return. We have left a decree in the second purple-gold box under the throne in the Soaring Palace Hall. Duke Tianshan may retrieve it. The decree there will serve as written proof that we commanded Duke Tianshan to manage the Han Royal Dynasty!”
As the Han Royal Dynasty’s Second Corps commander, Chan Tianshan naturally knew about the zither puppet. He received the information right away.
“Congratulations, Lord Chen—no, Duke Tianshan!” The officials responsible for managing the zither puppets in the hall congratulated Chen Tianshan immediately with great respect.
Chen Tianshan felt slightly startled.
He had not expected this. To think that His Majesty made me a duke?
I am not as good at scheming as Mo Yike or as good at strategy as Gao Xianzhi. Being the Second Corps commander is already a stretch. To think that His Majesty installed me as Duke Tianshan? The Duke Tianshan who guards the nation?
My noble rank instantly surpassed everyone else’s?
The surrounding officials congratulated Chan Tianshan. He felt quite confused for a while, and he thought back to the past. Since my time in the mundane world, I did not seem to have shown any accomplishments in politics or war. I have always been inferior to Gao Xianzhi and Mo Yike.
I am not even comparable to Bing Ji. Why?
Although Chen Tianshan felt confused, he also felt very moved.
Chen Tianshan’s abilities were only ordinary. He had seen the others, including Gao Xianzhi, Mo Yike, Meng Tai, and even Crown Prince Gu Qin, disdain him; not many respected him. They were all capable people. They respected only those who were capable. He was like a burden.
Only the emperor acknowledged him.
The emperor had handed the strongest army of the Han Royal Dynasty—the Divine Demon Army—to him to manage. It was not to balance the distribution of power but because the emperor trusted him.
It was not a decision on the spur of the moment. According to the emperor’s message, the emperor had already prepared a decree in the second purple-gold box under the throne in the Soaring Palace Hall. This proved that the emperor trusted him all along.
Chen Tianshan felt warm in his heart.
“Let’s go!” Chen Tianshan’s mood picked up as he headed for the Soaring Palace Hall.
Making a beeline for the Soaring Palace Hall, he summoned all the officials.
Indeed, there were a few purple-gold boxes under the throne. Chen Tianshan took out the decree in the second purple-gold box in front of all the military and civil officials before handing it to an official from the ministry of rites to read out.
“Holding the mandate of heaven, the emperor orders. Chen Tianshan has displayed great loyalty and more. We confer a duke rank upon him, and he shall be known as Duke Tianshan. While we are not in the Han Nation, Duke Tianshan will manage the nation and deal with the government administration. No official is to interfere with Duke Tianshan, no matter the reason. All who disobey will be treated as traitors! Written by the emperor himself!”
As that official read the decree aloud, all the officials broke out in a commotion.
His Majesty prepared this long ago?
“Salutations, Duke Tianshan!” the officials from Chen Tianshan’s faction immediately saluted.
The other officials could only salute respectfully, “Salutations, Duke Tianshan!”
As Chen Tianshan received the decree, his eyes turned slightly red. The decree did not say much; however, the line “Chen Tianshan has displayed great loyalty and more” made him feel incredibly touched.
“This official swears upon my death to properly manage the Han Royal Dynasty on His Majesty’s behalf! Long live His Majesty! May His Majesty live for ten thousand years!” Chen Tianshan said with a resolute gaze.
——
Major Metropolitan City, previously part of the Yuan Imperial Dynasty:
Commanding the army, Mo Yike and Gao Xianzhi quickly took over the former territory of the Yuan Imperial Dynasty. The Qian Nation officials were gone, but they had left some trouble for Mo Yike.
However, Mo Yike had governed the Yuan Imperial Dynasty for many years. The Qian Nation had occupied these territories for only a few short years. How could it be a problem for him? He immediately tapped the Mo Clan’s old factions. Countless clans responded, allowing him to take control of many cities quickly.
Many adjacent sects and dynasties got restless, wanting to make a move. However, Gao Xianzhi’s army acted with lightning speed. Five hundred thousand soldiers from the army that entered the Asura Path Secret Realm were under Chen Tianshan’s command. However, Gao Xianzhi still commanded one hundred thousand.
Chen Tianshan had refused to hand over command of the Divine Demon Army to Gao Xianzhi. In a fit of pique, Gao Xianzhi had decided against using the Divine Demon Army. His one hundred thousand generals reached the Lower Heavenly Palace Realm, one after another. With such experts leading the army, he could sweep his way through the place unrivaled.
Gao Xianzhi did not even have to go to the battlefield, simply remaining in Major Metropolitan City and issuing commands from there.
On this particular day in the Great Sigh Palace Hall:
When Mo Yike and Gao Xianzhi heard the message from the zither puppet, the two raised their eyebrows.
“Chen Tianshan?” Gao Xianzhi said dubiously.
“Indeed. Chen Tianshan. His Majesty installed him as Duke Tianshan. While His Majesty is not around, Chen Tianshan is to manage the nation.” Mo Yike frowned heavily before showing a faint, bitter smile.
“How could it be him? What is His Majesty thinking? Why do I not understand?” Gao Xianzhi revealed a complicated expression.
“Can you figure out what His Majesty is thinking?” Mo Yike looked at Gao Xianzhi.
Gao Xianzhi shook his head. “No. I have known His Majesty since my time in the mundane world. No one can figure out what His Majesty is thinking. However, the results have always shown that His Majesty is right.”
Mo Yike nodded. “After so many years, His Majesty is the only person I cannot fathom. However, I fully submit to His Majesty’s capability.”
“Mister Mo, can you think of why His Majesty values Chen Tianshan so much, even installing him as Duke Tianshan?” Gao Xianzhi looked at Mo Yike.
Mo Yike shook his head. “Regarding loyalty, we are all loyal to His Majesty. I cannot figure it out. However, let’s just wait and see since it is His Majesty’s decision.”
Gao Xianzhi nodded.
——
Lu Ya City:
After Meng Tai found the control room in Lu Ya City, he used many spirit stones to make the city rise and fly towards Major Metropolitan City.
Bing Ji and Meng Tai stood at the entrance to a large hall. They looked worriedly at the distant Gu Hai and saw him take out a zither puppet.
“A zither puppet?” Meng Tai goggled. Then, he hastily took out a zither puppet.
Bing Ji and Ao Shun looked curiously at that zither puppet.
The zither puppet immediately repeated Gu Hai’s message, installing Chen Tianshan as Duke Tianshan.
“Duke Tianshan?” Meng Tai’s expression changed.
Meng Tai had followed Gu Hai for very long already, and he had known Chen Tianshan for just as long. Chen Tianshan was not very capable and was overly pedantic. To think that His Majesty trusts him so much? After the crown prince died, he was picked to govern the nation?
Meng Tai saw Gu Hai take to the sky and head for the shrinking entrance to the Heavenly Realm.
Whoosh!
Gu Hai quickly entered the spatial tunnel.
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When he flew in, another person followed in the blink of an eye.
Whoosh!
“The Supreme Ascendant? Zang Yulian?” Ao Shun felt startled.
The Supreme Ascendant followed Gu Hai? What is she doing there?
The entrance to the Heavenly Realm shrank slowly, closing gradually.
Just as everyone thought no one else would dare go in, a majestic Buddhist greeting came from the west. “May the Lord Buddha preserve us!”
A beam of golden light suddenly shot over from the west.
Boom!
Like a strong gust arriving, three men suddenly appeared. The one on the left was the Future Buddha.
The Future Buddha had his eyes closed but appeared very anxious.
The one on the right looked aged. He held his palms together, showing a grave look in his eyes.
The one in the center appeared to be a burly, middle-aged man who looked incredibly dignified. He gazed coldly at the entrance to the Heavenly Realm.
The three had halos behind them. They were all frowning.
“The Three Lives Buddhas of the Spirit Mountain Holy Land! The Past Buddha, the Present Buddha, and the Future Buddha!” Bing Ji’s face sank.
“The Spirit Mountain Holy Land’s people are here too. This…” Meng Tai appeared anxious.
The Future Buddha said, “Lord Buddha, they have all entered the Heavenly Realm. Long Zhanguo has truly gone mad this time. We should quickly go in—”
Before the Future Buddha could finish, a large sword light suddenly shot over from the southwest.
Boom!
The purple sword light arrived in an instant. This sword light was colossal, more than three kilometers wide. When it arrived, all the swords of the citizens and the animal spirits trembled as though in homage to a sovereign.
Meng Tai extended his hand to hold down his sword. He showed horror on his face when he saw the purple sword light arrive.
Boom!
The sword light vanished, turning into millions of sword qi surrounding a man emanating a purple-black aura. This man was very burly. He carried a huge purple sword on his back and showed a ferocious expression. With just one glance, his ferocity seemed to rip into the soul, making people feel edgy.
“Sect Master Heavenly Access?” Ao Shun’s expression changed.
When Sect Master Heavenly Master arrived, he glanced coldly at the Present Buddha but ignored the Present Buddha after that.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Several sword images flew out from the surrounding mountain forests and arrived before Sect Master Heavenly Access. Sha was amid these sword images.
“Salutations, Sect Master!” a group of sword cultivators said respectfully.
Sect Master Heavenly Access suddenly looked at Sha. “Sha, Long Zhanguo obtained the Animal Path Secret Realm?”
These sword cultivators seemed to be fawning on Sect Master Heavenly Access. Only Sha showed an indifferent expression as he nodded. “Sect Master must have already seen it from afar. That’s right. Gu Hai must have helped Long Zhanguo to find it since Long Zhanguo rushed over at all costs and disrupted his initial plan. Then, Long Zhanguo discovered that the Supreme Singularity did not care about the Cyclic Star Ritual Array and the ten golden crow crown princes.”
Sect Master Heavenly Access narrowed his eyes slightly.
“Sect Master, are you entering the Heavenly Realm?” Sha asked with a frown.
Sect Master Heavenly Access did not say anything as another beam of light shot over, this time from the south.
Boom!
A green figure suddenly appeared.
Jiang Lianshan, dressed in green imperial robes embroidered with golden thread, blocked Sect Master Heavenly Access and the Three Lives Buddhas.
“Sect Master Heavenly Access? The Spirit Mountain Holy Land’s Three Lives Buddhas? It has been a long time since we met!” Jiang Lianshan looked at Sect Master Heavenly Access and the Three Lives Buddhas.
Sect Master Heavenly Access and the Three Lives Buddhas narrowed their eyes slightly.
“Yan Heavenly Emperor? What are you doing here?” the Future Buddha asked, raising his eyebrows.
“Me? I’m here to watch this exceptional battle with everyone, to see how the immortal destroys the rebel!” Jiang Lianshan replied with a faint smile.
“Watch the immortal destroy the rebel? Are you here to watch Long Zhanguo die?” The Future Buddha frowned slightly, appearing dubious.
The aged Past Buddha narrowed his eyes. “Yan Heavenly Emperor, are you talking about watching it with us? Watching? Does that mean that while you are not interfering, you are not allowing us to interfere, either? Are you here to block us?”
“Past Buddha is wise!” Jiang Lianshan nodded.
Jiang Lianshan blocked the Spirit Mountain Holy Land and the Myriad Age Daoist Sect. He had allied with Long Zhanguo, preventing all other factions in the world from interfering in this battle.
