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Chapter 745: The Three Paths of the Divine Dynasty
Chapter 745: The Three Paths of the Divine Dynasty
"What will you offer in return?"
From the moment Shen Yi saw the vast sea of Imperial Qi, he knew he probably wouldn't get any tangible benefits today.
The other party seemed to be showing off, but in reality, they were explaining themselves—clarifying the initial question.
Just as Shen Yi had suspected.
This Emperor was indeed prepared to sacrifice half of the land as a price, but not because he was mad. He had something that could help him win.
To win against the myriad gods and buddhas.
As for how to win, the other party didn't explicitly state it, but in the face of such a massive amount of Imperial Qi, even the strongest person Shen Yi had ever seen, the Bodhisattva of Pure World Liberation, seemed as insignificant as an ant.
"What do you need most right now?" The Emperor submerged himself back into the wine pool, only his head visible.
Shen Yi thought for a long time, then lifted his head and said earnestly, "To stay alive."
"Exactly."
The man smiled, as if he had expected this: "Borrowing power among the Three Teachings is extremely dangerous. Although you successfully defeated the Southern Emperor, problems will inevitably arise."
"Are you now in a pile of trouble?"
The Emperor said, sinking down to take a sip of the wine, his furrowed brows slightly relaxing. "What do you plan to do?"
"Head to the North Continent and seek refuge with the San Xian Jiao."
Shen Yi didn't hide anything. With the Emperor controlling the Imperial Qi of the entire land, it would be easy for him to find out where Shen Yi was going.
"So now the Bodhi Sect monks want to kill you?"
The Emperor nodded slightly and continued, "How do you plan to seek refuge? Give me some specifics."
"..."
Shen Yi fell silent again, shaking his head. "No, I don't know much about the Three Teachings."
He was virtually a stranger to the North Continent. Although he could rely on the knowledge of the Old Ancestor of Shen Xu, this insect demon had never been to the North Continent. It had only occasionally gained divine void cultivation and become an immortal, and even in the Southern Continent, it had been ostracized by its fellow disciples to the hidden realm of Tai Xu Zhi Jing, rarely venturing out.
He could talk about anything in broad terms, but when it came to the details, he was clueless.
"Since you're planning to seek refuge with the San Xian Jiao, you should find a relative first."
The Emperor wasn't surprised. He glanced at the memorial, from the first event to the last, a mere few years had seen this person rise like a demon, becoming a renowned figure in the Southern Continent.
This was definitely not someone who had followed the orthodox path.
For such a person, either investigate their secrets and use them, or eliminate them early.
But the Emperor chose neither.
This Southern General was a hero of the Divine Dynasty, and could not be killed... However, from the cold look in the other's eyes when faced with that question, it was clear that he and the Emperor were not on the same path. At least, this young man was fundamentally opposed to the Emperor's idea.
This Southern General could not accept using the lives of the people as a gamble.
Since they were not on the same path, it was better to let each walk their own road, avoiding mutual disdain.
"Among the Three Pure Ones and Five Emperors, which one is your lineage closer to?"
"The Three Pure Ones and Five Emperors?"
Shen Yi's clear eyes lifted.
The Emperor's expression became more complex, and he licked his lips. "Regarding the Three Teachings, excluding the True Deity, there are supreme figures in the remaining two teachings."
"The Bodhi Sect has the Three Lifetime Buddhas, each accompanied by two True Buddhas, managing three Sumeru Mountains, totaling nine."
"Similarly, the San Xian Jiao, besides the three Pure Ones, has five additional Emperors, making a total of eight."
"Why is one missing?" Shen Yi asked curiously, wondering if the two teachings had different foundations.
"Tsk, not really missing."
The man rubbed his chin lightly. "Actually, there are six Emperors: the Four Cardinal Emperors and the Earth Mother..."
"And the last one is?"
Shen Yi looked at him.
The Emperor glanced at him, seemingly speechless. "The last one is me."
"..."
Shen Yi was stunned, seriously examining the man before him, who showed no signs of cultivation. He found it hard to associate him with a supreme figure.
"That's why I say five Emperors."
The man stretched lazily. "The Emperor doesn't cultivate. Relying on Imperial Qi, he can match their strength, but in terms of lifespan, it's like a mayfly. Each generation takes over the last Emperor's position, and by my generation, I've simply given up, too lazy to bother with them."
He pointed to his front teeth. "You don't think someone knocked these out, do you? They fell out on their own. I'm old, and I'm dying."
With the cultivation of the Six Imperial Virtues, fixing a chipped tooth was no big deal.
The Emperor closed his eyes, leaning lazily against the pebble. He wanted this tooth to remind him that he was still human, not a lofty deity, and that he would ultimately die. Therefore, he had to complete everything he needed to do in that short span of time, leaving no room for retreat.
"These seventeen people represent the inheritance of the Daoist tradition in the world."
"What kind of Dao Fruit are you?"
"Divine Void Lineage", Shen Yi replied succinctly.
In this situation, a single misstep could lead to death and the loss of his Dao.
The only one who could help him was the Emperor before him.
"Let me think... Your Dao Fruit should belong to the lineage of Lingxu Zi, the Great Emptiness Immortal, under the Supreme Clarity Sect. This immortal is neither too high nor too low, making it a suitable place for you to settle."
The man clearly had a deep understanding of the Three Teachings. After a moment of thought, he provided an answer: "However, your Divine Void Lineage has a poor foundation, as its patriarch was a worm demon. Given the Supreme Clarity Sect's traditionally high standards, you might face some discrimination. But since you're fighting for survival, if you can keep a low profile, you should be able to stay."
"Once you're in, even if you can't connect with the Supreme Clarity Sect's leader, they won't stand idly by and let a group of monks bully you."
"Then... stay in the North Continent, avoid causing trouble, and keep a low profile. Seek a way to reach the Second Grade of Great Liberation. This step is as difficult as climbing to the heavens, but once you achieve it, your life will be secure."
The Emperor stretched, splashing a few drops of water: "This information doesn't quite match your contributions. Tell me, besides Imperial Qi, what else can I do for you?"
Again, such seemingly generous words.
Shen Yi glanced at him helplessly, already used to the Emperor's stinginess.
The Emperor had already made it clear that, apart from the Xiushi recruited by the Demon-Slaying Bureau, the court's own defense forces, including his own cultivation, were all derived from the Imperial Qi of heaven and earth. It was a completely different path.
In such a situation, it was impossible to offer any tangible benefits, let alone receive guidance from this colossal figure of the Six Imperial Virtues.
"I need to always be informed about the Three Teachings' activities in the Four Continents", Shen Yi said, settling for a lesser request. After the events in the South Continent, he had come to understand the importance of information channels, which could be more crucial than effective magical tools in certain situations.
"Alright, leave someone you trust in the Imperial City to handle communications for you."
The Emperor readily agreed, then finally climbed out of the pool. He subconsciously frowned but quickly masked his discomfort, waving to summon a maid carrying a jade tray.
The tray held prepared fine wine.
He dragged his wet body, personally filling two cups, and handed one to Shen Yi, teasing, "Don't worry, it's not from this pool."
"..."
Shen Yi took the cup and drank with him.
The Emperor wiped his mouth with his sleeve and, with a touch of sentiment, said, "It's a pity. If our dispositions were similar, with your help, the chances of success would have increased by at least ten percent."
Rustling.
He set down his cup, turned, and returned to the pool, hesitating for a moment before adding, "The knife in my hand has only one chance to strike. It's not that I'm naturally cruel; I just can't afford to lose."
"Thank you for saving the South Continent."
"Live well. When I unify this world, return, and you will still be a First-Rank General of the Divine Dynasty."
"If I lose... I hope you, this Bodhisattva and Immortal, will be kinder to the people."
"Take care."
Without giving Shen Yi a chance to say more, the Emperor withdrew his gaze and had the maid escort Shen Yi out.
Night was deep and quiet.
Shen Yi slowly walked out of the courtyard, looking at the empty street. After a long silence, he let out a soft sigh: "Phew."
This trip to the Imperial City seemed to have yielded no tangible benefits.
But the Emperor had bestowed a reward of immeasurable value.
When Shen Yi left Mount Sumeru, he went to the Eight Extremes Valley and chose to slay the Five Directions Bodhisattva, tying himself to the Divine Dynasty.
But the Emperor's final words had loosened that bond, setting him free.
He didn't need to choose sides; he just needed to live well.
No matter which side won, Shen Yi would be a winner: he could be a First-Rank General of the Divine Dynasty, or a Dragon-Taming and Tiger-Subduing Bodhisattva of the Bodhi Sect, or even a Grandmaster of the Emptiness Heavens in the San Xian Jiao.
The Emperor's intentions were clear: saving the South Continent was enough. The rest could be left to him.
"……"
Shen Yi's expression grew increasingly complex. As someone who had risen from the lowest ranks, it was hard for him to feel anything but unease toward a figure like the Emperor, who viewed the world as a chessboard and its people as mere pawns.
After all, no one wanted to be the pawn that could be sacrificed.
But the complexity of the situation lay in the fact that even after much contemplation, Shen Yi could not think of a second path to victory.
On the other side were the countless True Buddhas and the leaders of the six major sects. Behind the people of the Divine Dynasty stood only one of the Six Emperors.
The Emperor, despite his First Rank power, could only watch helplessly as the Divine Dynasty was gradually devoured. His lifespan couldn't compare to that of the other leaders, let alone those of the Second Grade of Great Liberation. Even a Great Emptiness Immortal would outlive him.
After his passing, would the next Emperor have the courage to pick up the sword?
Moreover,
Shen Yi was accustomed to feeling the weight of others' expectations, even when his own survival was uncertain. He had to worry about protecting his base from being overrun.
It was rare to encounter someone who took on the burden and urged him to flee for his life.
This sudden sense of relief was truly unusual.
"Phew."
Shen Yi resumed his steps down the long street, his eyes less troubled.
He understood the Emperor's thinking, but could not follow, regardless of his personal feelings. The difference in their philosophies was natural.
So, the Emperor was a hero, a strategist, while Shen Yi himself was still a small player, only capable of doing what he could.
With the guidance of one of the Six Emperors, Shen Yi's thoughts became much clearer.
He was about to go find Yue Lan when a carriage slowly pulled up, blocking his path.
"General Nanyang."
A slender figure descended from the carriage, nodding and smiling at Shen Yi. "From the Heavenly Department, Lin Shuya. We met at the Wine Pool last time."
He then extended a hand, offering a jade slip. "This is the location of Lingxu Zi's Grotto. His Majesty asked me to deliver it to you."
"Thank you, Lord Lin."
Shen Yi took the jade slip and carefully stored it. When he looked up, he saw that Lin Shuya had no intention of leaving. Instead, he reached out toward the carriage and said gently, "I know General Nanyang is about to depart and I don't want to delay you. But before dawn, I thought it might be nice to invite you to my residence for a chat."
As he spoke, Lin Shuya scrutinized the young man before him carefully.
The memorial, which not only the Emperor but also Lin Shuya himself had found suspicious, revealed something extraordinary about the person standing before him. The terrifying resume was filled with peculiar details!
According to the reports from the Wine Pool, this general seemed to have a different mindset from the Emperor's.
This aligned with Lin Shuya's earlier suspicions.
A world-class hero who had saved the South Continent from turmoil would not easily tolerate the Emperor's reckless and insane plans.
Seeing Shen Yi's silence, he forced a smile. "It's just a chat, nothing more. Perhaps… we might be on the same path?"
At these words, Shen Yi suddenly laughed.
Lin Shuya was taken aback, his smile freezing. "Why is General Nanyang laughing?"
"Nothing."
Shen Yi shook his head. He just found it remarkable that their recent conversation had so quickly reached the ears of others, especially someone as trusted as the head of the Heavenly Department.
"I prefer to walk alone."
Shen Yi politely declined the offer and walked around the carriage.
The waters of the Imperial City were deeper than he had imagined.
In his current precarious situation, Shen Yi did not want to get involved in the ideological conflicts of these powerful figures.
"……"
Lin Shuya stood there, silently watching Shen Yi's figure disappear into the night.
His eyes lowered, and he retracted his hand.
After a while, the slender middle-aged man chuckled. "Huh."
Indeed, these lofty figures all had the same mindset. The safety of the world was never as important as their own cultivation. Even as the Divine Dynasty was in ruins, their minds were still preoccupied with the Imperial Qi reward that had not yet been delivered.
This was a grudge.
If someone truly wanted to save the world, it would have to be someone like him, an ordinary person.
Only an ordinary person would see others as human beings.
"Sir, should we transfer some Imperial Qi from other continents? Perhaps a few tens of thousands of units could appease the general's resentment", the Heavenly Department official driving the carriage whispered.
"No need."
Lin Shuya's expression remained calm. He turned and lifted the curtain to enter the carriage, saying softly, "I misjudged him. He is not the kind of person I was looking for."
(End of Chapter)
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