Chapter 577 - 245: Twin Dragons Fight for the Pearl, Soul Stealing Gourd (Part 3)

Nanli Yujing, however, is in a state of tension and alarm. Whether it’s the marketplace or the court, everyone is filled with anxiety, wrapped in a low-pressure atmosphere.

Whoever was quick to circulate the news of the southern unification spread it throughout the streets and alleys of Yujing before the court could even react.

Not to mention the Capital and Three Commanderies.

The rumors are so vivid and detailed that listening to them makes one feel the Great Li Dynasty is on the brink of collapse.

Even when Beizhou invaded, with their forces pointing straight at Yujing, it didn’t have this kind of momentum.

The reason is simple.

The main force of the Beizhou Royal Court, after all, is composed of Hu People, accustomed to life on horseback, living nomadically, and prone to pillaging.

Not to mention their lifestyle is vastly different from the people of the Central Plains.

And their cruel nature would not gain the people’s acceptance.

No matter how fierce and vicious they are, they’re nothing more than large bandits and robbers.

Over the years, the lower classes have encountered robbers so often that it’s become routine.

With such people, they have a set of survival rules.

They always manage to survive.

The Beizhou People eventually retreat.

Peace never strays too far away, and hardship is always temporary.

This is the belief in the hearts of the people in the Capital Region.

However, with the unification of the south, an army of a million is gathering and will soon march north, aiming their blades directly at Yujing.

What is this?

It’s about changing dynasties.

In the past, Ji Hai Subdued Dragon’s story told everyone.

Unifying the north from the south is not an unusual event.

As long as the time and conditions are right, and circumstances align, it’s not impossible for it to occur.

The current Great Li Dynasty has long since lost the people’s support.

Some even wonder if changing the court might make life better.

Surprisingly, there’s not much resistance to the news of King Ping’s Army preparing to march north from the south.

It’s said that many people are secretly preparing colorful cloth, alcohol, and fragrant tea at home to joyfully welcome the "Royal Army."

This situation has become quite dramatic.

It’s said that during today’s morning assembly.

Ji Changshou overturned the table in the great hall.

His roars could be heard even by the guards outside the Vermilion Bird Gate.

One can only imagine the chaotic state of this morning assembly.

Disunity of hearts.

The disintegration of Great Li.

Therefore, Ji Tang did not stand guard at the Dragon-Locking Platform that day.

Nor did he further hone the Stinging Dragon Scripture, which was about to refine into the True Dragon’s Perfect Dharma Body.

He took the rare opportunity to place a White Jade Sword Order in Ji Xuantong’s hands and handed over a small gourd.

"Even Yan Beifei, with fifty thousand Imperial Army soldiers, was easily defeated. The matter of a southern campaign is no longer necessary."

Ji Tang’s expression was heavy.

Even grimmer than his expression was Ji Changshou’s.

He even felt that his seat was becoming uncomfortably hot.

How did things come to this point?

Ji Changshou couldn’t understand.

Did his eldest son Ji Xuantong’s summons by the ancestor mean that, in his great-granduncle’s eyes, he was no longer trustworthy, and they intended to cultivate the next emperor?

Indeed, in all these years.

The Great Li Dynasty has taken a nosedive, shrouded in turmoil.

Until this year, the Power of Destiny is pathetically scarce.

As a result, the great-granduncle’s Cyan Dragon Dharma Body has yet to reach perfection.

Even Empress Xiao at the Dragon-Locking Platform and the Simurgh Zither have not been refined, truly a string of misfortunes.

But is this his own mistake?

If the ancestor had not spent over a decade frantically siphoning the Destiny Refining Technique, causing crises from all sides, leading people to hardship and smoke to rise everywhere, how would this world have fallen to such a state?

However, some things, as a younger generation, even as an emperor, he cannot speak of.

This burden only he can carry.

And he must bear it willingly, with no regrets.

Otherwise, the Celestial Family is never a place for reason.

He’s afraid he might die without knowing why.

Just like back in Ji Changle’s day.

’Well, since I can’t practice the Stinging Dragon Scripture, that story of ascending by bedding three thousand women, I hope it’s true. Just a bit more time, and this solitude can break through Divine Martial, without having to seize the Power of Destiny...’

In the depths of Ji Changshou’s eyes, a cold light flickered.

He turned his head to look toward the Dragon-Locking Platform, with a plan of his own now forming, having made a decision.

Yet he laughed heartily, saying, "Comrade, with the Soul Stealing Gourd in your hand, there is no chance of failure. Though in this way, most of the True Dragon Blood Essence will be lost, it seems a bit less than ideal, but it should be sufficient.

If you accomplish this feat and consolidate the realm, this Great Li Dynasty will be entrusted to your hands. I hope you will not let your father down."

"Child, child swears to die without failing the mission."

Ji Xuantong choked up, tears welling in his eyes, overwhelmed with emotion.

"Please rest assured, Great Granduncle, with the Human Celestial Wisdom in hand, there’s an assurance of success. And until the last moment, Grandson will not use the Longevity Sword Order, so please, await the good news."

After speaking, he bowed respectfully, exuding a feeling of desolate wind whistling through Yi Water.

The faster Ji Xuantong walked, the more cheerful he became, until he could no longer suppress the joy in his heart as he left the hall, his mouth stretching to his ears.

"There’s no fifty-year Crown Prince in the world, but if Father, in the prime of life, succeeds with the women, he could live for three or four hundred years... this isn’t just a fifty-year Crown Prince, perhaps not even one hundred and fifty years would be the limit.

If, by chance, the old fellow clings to power and doesn’t leave, wouldn’t this Crown Prince wait till death to ascend to the throne... and now, this is my greatest opportunity.

Chen Ping, oh Chen Ping, this time as you venture south, please do me the favor of dying first."

He tightly squeezed the Longevity Sword Order in his hand, then glanced at the purple small gourd, opening his mouth wide in a silent laugh.

...

Chen Ping waited a full twelve days, almost losing patience.

Finally, on an afternoon when the first light snow quietly fell, he gathered 160 points of Fortune.

"No more, no more, Little Mingyue, your chess skills have improved too quickly lately; I can’t even give you two stones, next time we still have to guess first, no handicap."

Without even counting the black and white stones, Chen Ping knew he had lost this game.

Seeing Han Xiaoru’s cheeky smile while gnawing on a chicken leg, he felt slightly irritated, messed up the chessboard, and laughed, "Just had too much to eat, this king will take a nap, you two carry on yourselves."

"Alright, Seventh Brother, take your time, I’ll go over the game once more then."

Ji Mingyue carefully replaced the disturbed pieces one by one, stating earnestly.

Clearly, she was determined to defeat her Seventh Brother next time.

"This little girl."

Chen Ping chuckled silently.

He hadn’t realized that the seemingly obedient and non-competitive Little Commandery Princess was actually the most competitive one.

On ordinary days, he hadn’t seen it.

Hidden too deeply.

He wasn’t intending to actually nap.

With cultivation reaching the realm it had, whether he slept or not was no matter, a brief meditation could keep him spirited for three days and nights.

The golden light orb in his sea of consciousness was waiting for him.

Finally, Fortune was gathered.

What kind of opportunity would Venerable Yuxiao present this time?

Chen Ping felt some anticipation.

...