Chapter 443: Chapter 438: Bowing Before Time, Dragon Slayer
Great Zhou Imperial Dynasty.
White Jade City.
"Ancestor, the letters have all been sent out!"
"However, these Sects do not submit to imperial rule. I fear not many will be willing to go this time."
"The major Sects have had complaints since the last two conscriptions. This time, they will likely feign compliance while acting in defiance!"
Before the Great Zhou Imperial Dynasty’s National Guardian Martial Saint Ancestor, the Old Emperor Yang Yu did not stand with a straight back, but was instead half-bowed.
This was an extremely rare sight for him. It was not just because of the other’s status, but also due to the formidable might of a Martial Saint. Although it wasn’t intentionally directed at him, the aura alone exerted a suppressive pressure on his very life force.
It felt as if he were a lower form of being before this man, born to be suppressed and unable to even look him in the eye.
The National Guardian Martial Saint Realm requires Blood Exchange. After each exchange, one’s strength multiplies, and the power increase is terrifying.
Now that he could see the path forward, his anticipation for this realm grew even stronger.
"It matters not. Our preparations are nearly complete. Bringing the major Sects along is merely an extra precaution!"
"The Destiny Golden Dragon was weakened and the national fate damaged during the last two wars. The dragon no longer shines as brilliantly as it once did. Bringing the major Sects now will only accelerate this process."
"Furthermore, on our way to the border, we can ’forcefully invite’ any major Sects we encounter to serve the Great Zhou Imperial Dynasty."
"As long as we don’t directly threaten to sever their lineage, it won’t trigger an immediate backlash!"
"If you and I succeed, we need only make a promise, and this backlash will vanish."
"If we both fail, it will simply hasten the inevitable!"
"Even if the Great Zhou Imperial Dynasty’s reign could be extended by another ten or twenty years, it would be meaningless!"
The Great Zhou Martial Saint Ancestor, however, was completely unconcerned. To him, extending his lifespan was all that mattered. Besides, he was giving the Old Emperor Yang Yu a chance, which was also a chance for the Great Zhou Imperial Dynasty.
Whether or not Yang Yu could seize it was up to him.
If he failed, the Ancestor would no longer have time to stand guard over the Great Zhou Imperial Dynasty.
Cultivation in the Martial Saint Realm was even more arduous. Even now, he had not reached its end, let alone the realm above Martial Saint.
To him, that was a legendary realm, impossible to cross.
When he first broke through to the National Guardian Martial Saint Realm, he had been full of vigor, believing himself to be unrivaled in the world.
That was how it was back then.
He was Yang Sheng, known as the Invincible. He had suppressed countless experts to establish the current Great Zhou Imperial Dynasty, but now, his own time was running out.
No matter how powerful he had once been, he still had to bow his head before the river of time. Unwilling to accept this fate, he was determined to extend his life and achieve longevity.
But this time, he was not completely confident!
"Choose a Prince to act as regent. If you succeed, you can continue as Emperor. If you fail, it will be time for a new emperor!"
Yang Sheng looked at the Old Emperor Yang Yu, his tone a direct command.
He was well aware of the Imperial Family’s affairs but had never interfered.
Yang Yu had failed to break through to the National Guardian Martial Saint Realm even with the feedback from the Destiny Golden Dragon’s Power of National Fate. He would never have another chance to reach the Martial Saint Realm.
If Yang Sheng succeeded in extending his lifespan, he would select and groom a new emperor to try again. If he failed, he would no longer be able to care about such matters.
"I understand!"
The Old Emperor Yang Yu was not surprised to hear this; he had long been prepared.
The Ancestor was giving him one last chance. Within the Great Zhou Imperial Family, his cultivation was the highest, he controlled the Power of National Fate, and he was the one most likely to break through to the National Guardian Martial Saint Realm.
After all, having wielded the national fate, he was naturally more familiar with the feedback from the Destiny Golden Dragon’s Power of National Fate and thus had the best chance of a breakthrough.
If he failed, they would have to move on to the next candidate—assuming, of course, there was still an opportunity.
"Since Grand Tutor Helian Guang has already died in battle, bring Grandmaster Yan Hongwen and Grand Protector Sikong Wenwen with you!"
"Those two bear the Power of National Fate. At the critical moment, their use could be worth several Sects."
"If something unexpected happens, sacrifice them without hesitation. It could buy you more time!"
"If the feedback from the national fate is not fully refined, the Destiny Golden Dragon will react with a fierce backlash. At your current Peak of Bone Marrow Cleansing Grandmaster cultivation, your refining speed is relatively slow. Those two might be able to buy you some extra time."
Yang Sheng looked at the Old Emperor, and after a moment’s thought, offered the advice.
This was all the help he could offer. The rest was up to Yang Yu himself.
"Rest assured, Ancestor. Besides Grandmaster Yan Hongwen and Grand Protector Sikong Wenwen, I will bring a few others. Their replacements have already been chosen and will be instated once news from the border reaches White Jade City."
"This way, whether we succeed or fail, the Great Zhou Imperial Dynasty will be able to endure a while longer."
"If a new emperor takes the throne, he should have his own new ministers!"
The Old Emperor Yang Yu had been on the throne for many years; naturally, he had many hidden stratagems.
After learning the use of Grand Tutor Helian Guang, he had begun considering these other ministers as well. This reminded him of the former First Grade Grand Scholar Peng Kang—that man had died too soon. He hadn’t arranged a replacement for him at the time.
If he had another chance, he would have arranged for a replacement first.
He certainly wouldn’t miss the opportunity now.
These ministers were always saying, ’If the sovereign wants his subject to die, the subject must die.’ Now was the time for them to live up to those words.
Words, once spoken, cannot be taken back like spilled water. One should act as one speaks.
When it came to preparations, he had done even more than the Ancestor had thought. This was a habit he had developed as Emperor.
After all, with so many Princes coveting his throne, such preparations were merely instinctual. Yes, just instinct—not something he did with conscious effort.
"You are the Emperor of Great Zhou now. You may make whatever arrangements you see fit!"
Yang Sheng glanced at Yang Yu, unconcerned. He had some understanding of the personality of this eighth-generation descendant of his.
The man was the very picture of harshness and ingratitude, but as the Ancestor of the Great Zhou Imperial Family, Yang Sheng saw no problem with that.
Regardless of an emperor’s personality, it is a subject’s duty to serve him.
Especially at a critical time like this, it is the moment to show one’s loyalty to the nation.
To not be loyal to the nation now would be to betray the Great Zhou Imperial Dynasty, making them unworthy of being its ministers.
Preparing in advance also gave Yang Yu a slightly better chance of success, which, in a way, was good news.
Conversely, an emperor who prattled on about benevolence and morality might be unwilling to damage the Destiny Golden Dragon and use the national fate to achieve a breakthrough, which would have interfered with his plans.
"Rest assured, Ancestor. I will not hold you back!"
The Old Emperor Yang Yu wasn’t surprised by this reaction. This Ancestor couldn’t care less about such matters. If his lifespan weren’t nearing its end and his cultivation hadn’t hit a wall, he never would have arranged things this way.
However, for him, this was also a great opportunity.
After all, as the Emperor of Great Zhou, he had been unaware of these secrets before—not just him, but the several emperors before him as well.
It was only because he happened to be on the throne as the Ancestor’s lifespan was running out that he was privy to this.
The injury to the Destiny Golden Dragon and the damage to the national fate were permanent and difficult to repair. It could only be fixed, and perhaps even improved, by ushering in a golden age, but the difficulty of doing so was immense.
In a sense, that was an even more unattainable goal.
This was why Yang Sheng had never used this method before. Furthermore, using the Power of National Fate to achieve a breakthrough meant being bound by the national fate’s influence.
This applied not only to the Old Emperor Yang Yu but to himself as well. The difference was, he no longer had a choice.
"When we leave, you must pay attention to the security of the Dragon-Suppressing Stone hidden within the Imperial Mausoleum in White Jade City. If a Dragon Slayer were to appear, the national fate of the Great Zhou Imperial Dynasty could be severed. At that point, forget about any feedback from the national fate."
"Even if you and I succeed, should the Great Zhou Imperial Dynasty’s Destiny Golden Dragon be slain, all our efforts will be for naught!"
"Once you are bound to the national fate, there is no escape!"
As Yang Sheng said this, a hint of helplessness crept into his voice. He had avoided this path before because it offered him no real benefit.
The major Holy Lands do not personally participate in the struggles between Imperial Dynasties precisely because they fear this Power of National Fate. In a way, an Imperial Dynasty’s national fate is poison to them. Absorbing it means tying their own survival to that of the nation.
A Holy Land once personally acted as a national guardian, only to be destroyed along with that Imperial Dynasty. Even if a Holy Land acts as a backup, it cannot withstand the rise and fall of an empire. It seems to be a natural law that imperial power cannot last forever.
Thus, the major Holy Lands maintain a certain distance from the Imperial Dynasties.
Take the relationship between the Great Zhou Imperial Dynasty and Holy Lands like the Supreme Sect, the Celestial Fragrance Sect, and the Merak Sacred Land. They have some connections, but they are not deep. Even if the Great Zhou Imperial Dynasty were to fall, it would not affect these Holy Lands.
While they might not remain completely indifferent, they would not personally intervene to help fight other Imperial Dynasties. At most, they would prevent other Holy Lands from interfering and provide some Cultivation Resources as aid.
And that is the absolute limit of what the Holy Lands are willing to do.
For the most part, they simply watch the rise and fall of dynasties while they themselves endure, becoming lofty Holy Lands that look down upon all Imperial Dynasties.
Naturally, he would not ask the Holy Lands for help, because they would never agree.
If he wanted to break through, he could only rely on himself.
"I understand. The Imperial Army is still in the Imperial Palace. I have stationed most of them near the hidden Imperial Mausoleum. Grandmaster experts from the Royal Family have also been arranged to guard it from within!"
"As long as no Martial Saint makes a move, the Dragon-Suppressing Stone will be safe."
The Old Emperor Yang Yu guaranteed. This concerned the national fate of the Great Zhou Imperial Dynasty, and more importantly, his own breakthrough in Martial Arts; of course he was paying close attention.
Previously, the Martial Saint Ancestor had personally guarded the Dragon-Suppressing Stone, so no one could damage it. After all, with a Martial Saint expert on watch, any petty thieves who got close would just be courting death.
But after being told these secrets by Yang Sheng, he had begun to take it even more seriously.
He had not yet broken through to the National Guardian Martial Saint Realm, so he absolutely could not allow it to be destroyed. Even after a breakthrough, the same would hold true—in fact, he would have to place even greater importance on it.
"Good, as long as you understand its importance. If the Dragon-Suppressing Stone is destroyed, the national fate bound to the Destiny Golden Dragon can no longer be suppressed. Even with a Martial Saint, the Great Zhou Imperial Dynasty would be indefensible and still face annihilation!"
"Once the Imperial Dynasty’s fate is damaged, the Yang Family will be unable to establish another nation for hundreds of years. They will be cursed by the national fate, suffering all manner of natural and man-made disasters, and will find it difficult to survive!"
After hearing him, Yang Sheng offered one last warning to make sure Yang Yu understood the gravity of the situation.
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