Translator: Sparrow Translations Editor: Sparrow Translations
Zhu Hongwu stepped in void space and placed his hands behind his back. He was like a heavenly pillar that supported the Heavens. He stared at Zhu Yi in front of him and said quietly, “You’re also part of the Great Zhou and you even carry the honor of the Great Zhou on you. But you’ve colluded with others to betray the Great Zhou and want to destroy the Great Zhou today. Your actions will be recorded in history.”
“Yi Zi? You’re unfilial and rebellious, how’re you worthy to be called that? How can you be called a sage?”
His tone of voice was very calm, but his voice rumbled like lightning that resonated in the Heavens and Earth. It echoed non-stop in the Divine Lands.
Zhu Yi’s expression didn’t change as heard that. He replied slowly, “Colluded and betrayed the Great Zhou? I’ve no such intention. But the Great Zhou has been to wayward these few years, and I’ve to stop the rot now before things get worse.”
“The Great Zhou Empire has exhausted all resources to build up its military power these few years and started many bloody massacres that have taken countless lives. The Great Zhou conquered other places and imposed heavy taxes on people that have made it difficult for them to survive.”
“But the worst of all is that the Great Zhou schemed during the War of the Two Worlds and tried to harm fellow humans. The Great Zhou is immersed in its own selfishness. Father, you cannot abscond from this. Neither can the Great Zhou Emperor.”
Zhu Yi spoke very slowly. While he didn’t seem agitated, he appeared frustrated. As his voice spread in the Heavens and Earth, he seemed louder than Zhu Hongwu, “Heaven’s will represents the people’s will and Heaven’s heart represents the people’s heart. Today, we’re going to avenge the Arctic State and the many others who have been conquered and bullied by the Great Zhou.”
“As for the Great Zhou Emperor, let’s determine his fate in an educated manner. If he doesn’t listen to our calls, he needs to step down from his position. Father, please repent. Otherwise, we’ll have to follow the people’s wishes and remove you.”
Zhu Hongwu’s expression didn’t seem to change. He snorted through his nose, “Unfilial son, you just want me to kneel down in front of your mother. It’s all for selfish reasons, but you’re here to twist the facts. Do you think you can bluff everyone? You’re the most treacherous of them all!”
Zhu Yi heard him and shook his head, “Twisting the facts? Your words are too ridiculous. My personal life is separate from this. I’ve the intention to talk to you clearly and understand your intentions, but that doesn’t affect what I’m doing here.”
“You attacked the Arctic State’s capital in the past and led a massacre on the Arctic State for 3 days straight. After that, you executed all males above 12 years old. Did you forget what you’ve done?”
“After the Arctic State came under the Great Zhou Empire, the taxes imposed on the people of the Arctic State were more than twice of the other Great Zhou states. Only after the battle at Xiling City did the Great Zhou reduce the taxes imposed on them. Am I fabricating this?”
“Besides the Arctic State, the Great Zhou also conquered neighboring states and their people were offered to the satanic cultivators that need live souls or blood sacrifices. These satanic cultivators were even secretly recruited by the Great Zhou Empire. Do you think no one knows about this?”
“The Great Zhou Empire cleansed the powers of the aristocratic families and sects in the empire. There was a sect called the Golden Mist Sect, which made great contributions to the Great Zhou. They were like the Vast Sea Sword Sect and should have been spared. But because you wanted to fix the Great Heavenly Wheels, you sent people there to steal their treasure that led to the destruction of their entire sect. I believe you still remember it, don’t you?”
“Or perhaps, it has never bothered you?”
Zhu Yi didn’t stutter, and his words were very clear. He said, “During the War of the Two Worlds, the Undying Demon Soul Third Level Ya Yu Grand Sage attacked Shi Zongmao and freed the Hou Ning Dragon King. The Hou Ning Dragon King went on to attack Shi Yu. The Ya Yu Grand Sage and Great Qin had no grudges, and Ya Yu didn’t have any ties with the Dragons. Why did he appear there then?”
“The Great Zhou’s Middle World, the Ancient Geyun World was sealed many years ago. The saying was that its resources had been expended and it couldn’t survive anymore. The Middle World was too old and was about to end. This explanation was very common and there was nothing wrong with it. But the Ya Yu Grand Sage’s appearance greatly put this matter into doubt.”
Zhu Hongwu wanted to open his mouth, but Zhu Yi glanced at him, “Just recently, the Great Zhou even tried to exploit the attack of the Hades tribe on Mount Baiyun to destroy Xiling City. If you don’t want people to know about your deeds, don’t commit them in the first place. Instead of I being the one who twisted facts, it’s you who tried to do so. Did you think that you can conceal the truth from everyone?”
Behind Zhu Yi, many light projections appeared suddenly. Every of this light projection presented a human figure.
One of them was Shi Zongtang, who said, “Zhu Hongwu, I don’t have to remind you of the enmity between the Great Qin and Great Zhou. The Great Qin won’t give up an opportunity to exterminate the Great Zhou, but the only exception was during the War of the Two Worlds!”
“Your Great Zhou tried to destroy the Great Qin during the War of the Two Worlds. There must be an explanation for this matter.”
In another light projection, the Royal House Lord was seen. His voice sounded like rumbling thunder, “Those who abide by the rules will live, but those who betray the rules shall die. While survival of the fittest has always been the rule of the game, your backstabbing ways during the War of the Two Worlds have crossed the line. We can’t tolerate that!”
The Thunderclouds Holy Man said gradually, “The Great Zhou have been too wayward these few years. It’s time to correct the problem.”
These light projections lit up in void space above Tianjing. They appeared on Great Zhou territory. Shi Zongtang and the other’s voices kept on resonating.
What left the Great Zhou Empire furious and shocked was that there were a few other light projections besides those of Shi Zongtang, Royal House Lord and Thunderclouds Holy Man.
There were the Luofu Holy Man and the leader of the Path of Hell, Ming Zun.
There was one more person. He was the leader of the Vast Sea Sword Sect who had been in retreat earlier, the Vast Sea Swordmaster!
This Immortal Soul Third Level sword cultivator led the Vast Sea Sword Sect and relied on the Great Zhou Empire, but now he also said to Liang Pan in a deep voice, “Your Majesty, remove all the evil around you and stop the rot. The Great Zhou still has a place in the Divine Lands.”
The Great Zhou Empire was in shock. In the Divine Lands, all the sects and powers apart from the Great Void Sect were against the Great Zhou Empire. They were backed by the Celestial Sect of Wonders and all called for the Great Zhou Empire to submit now.
A mighty voice resonated from the Imperial Palace of Emperor Tai above Tianjing right now, “Evil? What evil? I can only see someone who has betrayed the empire and enemies who want to violate the Great Zhou.”
The person speaking was naturally Liang Pan, who was in the Imperial Palace of Emperor Tai. He wore a five-clawed, golden dragon robe and had a crown on his head. “The Grand Advisor has done a lot for the empire and is very loyal. On the contrary, someone betrayed the empire and became the puppet of some other power.”
Zhu Hongwu’s expression didn’t change, and he only lifted his brows to look at the light projections. He said calmly, “All of you are cowards. Just because someone is backing all of you, all of you are being so daring now? If you’re truly capable, fight yourself. I don’t need the Great Heavenly Wheels to fight all of you. But the question is, are all of you daring enough to fight me?”
Before Shi Zongtang and the others answered, Zhu Yi laughed slightly, “Father, you must be joking. I mentioned to you before that once I reach the Immortal Soul Stage, I will find you no matter where you are.”
“All these years, I returned to Tianjing once a year and go to your residence to find you. But you’ve always been retreating and I return back disappointed. Today’s the first time that I’ve seen you exit your retreat.” Zhu Yi scanned Zhu Hongwu, “Oh, you’ve finally reached the Immortal Soul Third Level.”
Zhu Yi placed his hands behind him as he stood in void space. He looked at Zhu Hongwu and said gradually, “I should be the one asking you. You’re finally confident enough to exit your retreat now that you’ve reached the Immortal Soul Third Level. Not hiding anymore?”
Zhu Hongwu listened to him and stared at his face. He couldn’t help but laugh, “Unfilial son, do you still not get it? I’ve been fearful of your master, Lin Feng, all this while.”
“As for you and that Arctic State trash, it’s easy for me to kill the both of you.”
As he spoke, Zhu Hongwu’s body moved suddenly.
As he moved, he wasn’t as ferocious or brutal as a Martial Way cultivator. But he was quick. He transcended the boundaries of time and space, and his figure disappeared from where he was. He came before Zhu Yi and Yue Hongyan. There were no signs. It was as if he was standing very close to them from the start.
But when he struck out both his palms towards Zhu Yi and Yue Hongyan, his momentum turned ferocious. It’s as if the sky had collapsed.
Zhu Hongwu’s hands shone with a satanic glow. In the center of his palm, there seemed to be a light wheel that was spinning non-stop. There seemed to be countless figures sitting on the wheel – they were Buddhas and divine beings.
The Buddhas and divine beings all seemed to be riding the wheel. As the wheel revolved, it’s as if the Heavens was revolving too.
Shi Zongtang and the rest in the light projections noticed his movements and turned serious. Even with their cultivation, they couldn’t clearly capture Zhu Hongwu’s actions. Zhu Hongwu’s casual grab was even enough to make it difficult for Immortal Soul Third Level cultivators to deal with.
The Royal House Lord was also a Martial Way cultivator and his Immortal Soul Avatar and flesh were cultivated together. His virtual entity was also cultivated into his flesh. Even his Dao Fruit was also cultivated into his flesh.
But when he saw Zhu Hongwu made his move, he could sense the frightening strength that he possessed.
Zhu Hongwu’s breathing seemed to play out the creation and destruction of a universe in his body. The Royal House Lord could match his might, but he didn’t manage it easily. To be as relaxed as Zhu Hongwu, he was unable to do so.
And what left the Royal House Lord gloomy was that Zhu Hongwu didn’t seem to unleash his full powers now.
Zhu Yi’s expression didn’t seem to change as he faced Zhu Hongwu that came towards him. He stepped firmly on the ground and streaks of aura surged out from his body. “Father, the person who can’t see the truth is you.”
