"Did the Sanxiao Dao Sect win?" Wen Renwu lay injured beside the alchemical furnace, listening to the news with some disbelief.
"It's not just about Yunmiao True Lord fighting dozens of people alone; could the Sanxiao Dao Sect really overpower the entire cultivation world?" The Emperor was helping him apply medicine, his tone indifferent. "The Sanxiao Dao Sect has always been unparalleled in the world. Whether it's Yunmiao, Huayang, or some old fogeys, they are all at the peak of the Fourth Realm."
"But they are only temporarily in control. More people will come later. If those great powers don't fight against the Dao Sect directly and enter the Land of Immortals instead, how many can they stop?" This was the Emperor's confidence in his dealings with the Dao Sect.
He believed in the weight of Qingcang's name.
Those who had been here once would not want to come back to this hellish place a second time.
Wen Renwu's struggle with a youngster was evident.
If an elite from the Three Rankings faced him, he might end up dead.
True Lords outside the Land of Immortals could not be insulted, but here, defeating even a master wasn't impossible.
They were all accomplished great powers, having wielded authority for thousands of years outside.
Most of them cherished their lives.
Moreover, a realm they couldn't reach in the past wouldn't yield a different outcome now.
The benefits and risks were disproportionate.
But Qingcang could attract many old entities, all remnants of ancient battles.
"However, Yunmiao coming here suggests another breakthrough, surpassing Huayang, which is also a variable." The Emperor looked contemplative.
It seemed the Long Life Pill was about to succeed, and endless karma was pressing down on him, causing constant changes and frequent anomalies.
In contrast, everything was not going as Yunmiao wished, nor as the Dao Sect desired.
Wen Renwu was astonished, "Can the Fourth Realm peak still be broken through?"
"It's not about the realm itself, just a closer approach to 'immortality.' Huayang is predictably inferior to Yunmiao. Yunmiao has nine levels of Dao Foundation, with eight being perfect. Huayang is one level short. One level of Dao Foundation is a significant difference; perfection is even more so. This gap cannot be bridged." The Emperor glanced at the furnace, a rare fervor in his normally cold eyes.
"I, like Yunmiao, lack one perfect level. Without remedying this, I fear immortality will remain elusive." Wen Renwu wore a bitter expression.
He had only three perfect levels in his eight-level Dao Foundation.
The difficulty of Dao Foundation was like ascending to heaven, and a perfect Dao Foundation was like pushing a boulder up that heavenly path.
He had been a prodigy of the military sect, much like Gu Wen, possessing a Dharma form, but ultimately halted at eight levels of Dao Foundation with three perfect.
The Emperor took out a golden pill, its spiritual essence contained, and the pill cloud resembled a dragon.
"This pill can help you perfect another level of Dao Foundation, but it might be the last time it works. Any more would be ineffective." Wen Renwu accepted the pill, uncertain whether to be happy or worried.
To halt on the great path, how unwilling!
At that moment, a guard quickly entered the hall, presenting a document adorned with a chicken feather.
Known as a "chicken feather document," it indicated urgent matters with a bird feather attached, signaling it should be delivered swiftly.
The Emperor read it and casually tossed it to Wen Renwu, who, after a glance, twitched his mouth.
"Audacious beyond measure, to think of plundering official ships in such a situation."
Gu Wen was now comprehensively wanted by Great Qian, with a bounty as high as ten thousand taels of gold.
The various sects were even promised a Dao weapon, and some old monsters with grudges against Qingcang would also come knocking.
Gu Wen had not expected that fleeing down the river would result in him being hunted like this.
He swam swiftly, his body gliding through the water effortlessly, but he could still sense the encroaching danger behind him.
As he moved through the water, thoughts of recent events churned in his mind.
His body, battered and bruised, carried the weight of countless battles and near-death experiences.
Yet, his spirit remained unbroken.
He knew he couldn't rely on the river to keep him safe forever.
There had to be a plan, a way to turn the tide in his favor.
And for that, he needed allies, resources, and a safe place to regroup.
As he approached a more secluded part of the river, Gu Wen emerged from the water, his senses on high alert.
He needed to find a place to rest and heal, to strategize his next move.
The pursuit of the Emperor's forces was relentless, but he couldn't let that deter him.
Looking around, Gu Wen spotted a small, abandoned temple nestled in the woods by the riverbank.
It wasn't much, but it would provide some cover and a chance to catch his breath.
He made his way towards it, hoping to find some semblance of peace, even if just for a short while.
Inside the temple, the air was thick with the scent of incense, and the remnants of offerings lay scattered.
Gu Wen sat down, his back against the cool stone wall, and closed his eyes.
He needed to center himself, to tap into the reserves of strength that had seen him through so much already.
As he meditated, the events of the past few days played out in his mind.
The battles, the betrayals, the moments of fleeting victory and crushing defeat.
Each memory was a lesson, each scar a testament to his resilience.
He couldn't afford to rest for long.
The Emperor's forces would be scouring the area soon enough.
But for now, in this small, forgotten temple, he allowed himself a moment of reflection and resolve.
The path ahead was fraught with peril, but he had come too far to turn back now.
The rebellion across the land was not just a struggle for survival.
It was a battle for something much greater – for freedom, for justice, and for the hope of a better future.
And Gu Wen was determined to see it through, no matter the cost.
"With the entire might of Great Qian hunting him, pursued and surrounded by the Three Teachings and Nine Schools, his positioning himself like this is tantamount to courting death." The Emperor shook his head. "He's very clever. The safest place in the world is to be at the peak of power; everything else is illusory. Hiding is for survival; dominating the world is for invincibility."
"Then let's end it in one decisive blow." Wen Renwu, dragging his injured body, stood up, his killing intent soaring. "I will lead an army of ten thousand elite soldiers. Even if it costs me my life, I will make sure he perishes."
The Emperor nodded slightly. "Go. At that time, I will help you hold off the celestial maiden."
"Understood." Wen Renwu exited the grand hall.
Before he could step out of the palace gate, another messenger guard hurried in, announcing loudly, "Your Majesty, news from Zechuan County—it's fallen, and Minister of War, General Ren Duguan, has died in battle."
The hall fell silent.
The Emperor sighed. "The world is ever-changing, and the will of heaven is unpredictable. Go and quell the rebellion."
Wen Renwu, feeling somewhat unwilling, said, "Gu Wen, that child, can fight me while constantly refining his Dharma form and divine abilities. We must not let him live, Your Majesty." The methods of refining a Dharma form and divine abilities are myriad, and while it's not unusual for a Killing Dao Dharma form to be refined in battle, Gu Wen's comprehension is too fast.
"With Zechuan in unrest, the whole world will rebel." The Emperor understood the gravity of the situation.
Gu Wen, though highly talented, was just that—highly talented.
Future achievements are unpredictable, but a rebellion, if not quelled, would soon be a guillotine over his head.
"Yes." Wen Renwu bowed and left, taking over military authority from the Imperial Guard and once again conscripting civilian labor.
Soon, the city of Beijing was filled with the wails of its citizens as hundreds of able-bodied men were dragged from their homes, and even prominent households were not spared.
Officials imposed additional taxes, and even scholars' families could not escape.
In the chaotic conscription, an army of 150,000 was raised, the majority of which were civilians handling logistics.
The real core was the ten thousand elite soldiers returning from the frontier.
On the Qian River, Gu Wen boarded a ship and was immediately surrounded by a dozen armed officials from the Treasury Department, each wearing chainmail, likely former Imperial Guardsmen.
In ancient times, being armored or not made a world of difference.
These dozen men could deter a band of over a hundred robbers, perhaps even several hundred.
Most bandits weren't heroes like those of Liangshan but starving refugees armed with dung forks, who would scatter after a dozen or so were killed.
After all, the Treasury Department was responsible for collecting spiritual items for the Emperor, so it made sense for their personnel and equipment to be top-notch.
What if they got robbed otherwise?
Gu Wen condensed water into a spear and said, "I only seek wealth, not lives." Right now, he was penniless.
Being called a Daoist without money was just a joke.
The officials widened their eyes at this display of magic, exchanged uncertain glances, and then slowly lowered their weapons.
A small-eyed eunuch stepped out from a corner, shouting, "He's just a charlatan! Don't be fooled by his tricks. These are offerings for the Holy Emperor. Lose them, and you'll all lose your heads!"
Boom!
The water spear shot out, piercing the eunuch's body and pinning him to the mast.
His eyes bulged in shock, and blood spurted from his mouth.
He screamed for a while before falling silent.
Silence!
The remaining officials, now genuinely terrified, stepped back, leaving Gu Wen to take whatever he wanted.
Without another word, Gu Wen gathered as many valuables as he could carry, his mind racing with plans for his next move.
He couldn't stay here long; the Emperor's forces would soon be on his trail.
With a final glance at the fallen eunuch, Gu Wen made his way to the stern of the ship, ready to disappear into the river once more.
His journey was far from over, and the challenges ahead were daunting, but he was determined to survive and prevail.
As he slipped into the water, the cold current embraced him, and he swam away with silent strokes, leaving the chaos behind.
The rebellion was spreading, and with every stroke, he felt the weight of destiny pressing down on him.
In this turbulent world, strength was the only refuge.
To survive, he had to become stronger, faster, and smarter than ever before.
Only then could he hope to carve out a future amidst the turmoil.
The water spear shot out, piercing through the eunuch’s body and pinning him straight to the mast.
His eyes widened in shock, blood spurted from his mouth, and he barely had time to scream before he fell silent.
Silence!
Gu Wen, being kind to the surrounding guards, said, "According to the laws of Great Qian, fighting valiantly and failing can be considered a merit." If they couldn’t protect the imperial goods, they'd be beheaded.
If this rule were strictly enforced, almost every official escorting goods would be dead because, in ancient transportation conditions, losses were inevitable.
And given Great Qian's current state of social instability, bandits were inevitable too.
Although Great Qian was in decline, its foundation was considered enlightened and peaceful among feudal dynasties, with no harsh officials or draconian laws.
The guards, understanding his words, promptly lowered their weapons.
Then the leader among them stepped forward and asked, "What does the celestial master desire?"
"Tribute medicines."
"Please follow me, celestial master."
Gu Wen followed the leader into a dimly lit cabin, filled with piles of goods.
Just as he was about to bend down and inspect them, an iron knife swung at him from behind.
The blade gleamed coldly, aiming for his neck.
In an instant, Gu Wen’s life was on the line.
Facing the iron knife with a mortal body, his head could be sliced off easily.
Gu Wen didn’t want to test the effectiveness of his protective Daoist techniques.
Turning swiftly, he smashed the attacker’s skull with a punch, snatched the knife, and beheaded another man.
The remaining guards, seeing this, hesitated.
Two of them, with fierce expressions, charged at him, but they couldn’t withstand even a single move from Gu Wen.
Heads rolled on the ground, swaying with the ship's movements.
Soon, all the guards on the ship were dead.
A few had jumped overboard to escape, but Gu Wen, not wanting to leave any loose ends, followed and drowned them one by one.
Returning to the ship, he found three trembling boatmen, who knelt and begged for mercy.
It took some effort to reassure them before they reluctantly agreed to help him find the tribute goods.
While they were unloading the cargo, Gu Wen touched the jade pendant in his pocket, and as soon as he infused it with his spiritual power, he was repelled.
Frustrated, he muttered, "After all the trouble I've gone through, you still won’t work for me?"
Once he escaped this perilous situation, his first thought was the jade pendant, rumored to be a Dao weapon.
His current weapon, the Xuan Zhong spear, was already damaged.
Wen Renwu had tried to capture him, focusing his attacks on the Xuan Zhong spear.
This Dao weapon clearly wasn’t easy to refine.
Gu Wen needed to find a way to acquire some Emperor’s Nectar.
He knew his target was one of the Emperor’s tribute items, the Heavenly Spring Water from Tianquan Mountain, located in Luoshui County.
This area, situated between Nanshui County and Qianjing County in central Great Qian, was known for its handicrafts and thriving commerce.
"Celestial master, here are the items you requested."
The boatmen brought out several boxes and opened them one by one.
Inside were silver, medicinal herbs, silk, and ceramic jars.
Gu Wen grabbed a handful of silver and tossed it to them, saying, "This is your reward. Ten taels each—more than enough for you to carry."
The three boatmen hesitated briefly, realizing that taking the money meant being complicit.
But the thought was fleeting.
It wasn’t every day someone had the chance to be complicit.
The court conscripted them for labor without pay!
Without exception, the three men pocketed the silver, their fear of Gu Wen momentarily washed away by the gleam of the silver, even feeling a hint of admiration.
One of them, emboldened, stepped forward and asked, "May I ask the benefactor's name?"
"When did I become your benefactor?" Gu Wen chuckled.
The young and robust boatman, gathering his courage, bowed and said, "I am the only son in my family, conscripted for labor, with no idea when I’ll return. If it weren’t for you killing those men, my old mother at home might starve."
"Here’s another ten taels for you."
Finding the situation amusing, Gu Wen tossed him another ten taels and replied, "My surname is Gu, given name Wen. The Emperor said he wanted to pass the throne to me, so today, I’m just collecting some interest."
The boatman was stunned.
He wanted to address him like a hero from the Jianghu, but this master openly declared he was going to be the Emperor.
He had no idea how to respond.
"Alright, dock the boat and get off," Gu Wen ordered.
The boat approached the shore, and the three boatmen quickly jumped off.
Gu Wen turned back to search through the boxes of tribute.
He wasn't worried about a few unimportant civilians running off and causing any trouble for him.
Reporting to the authorities carried the risk of being implicated, and given the speed of information transmission in ancient times, by the time the court's soldiers arrived, he would have long been gone.
This is why there were notorious bandits in ancient times, whereas in modern times, it’s almost impossible to escape a province.
Improving his strength quickly was essential, and the fate he sought could only be achieved through plundering.
He opened a box of spiritual medicines, not recognizing most of the items, and started shoving them into his mouth.
He held in his hand the urgent imperial decree he had taken from the eunuch.
"Urgent message, and this place isn't even close to Zechuan!?" Gu Wen took a look and was stunned.
[Rebellion in Linchuan County.
The county governor was killed by rebel forces, and the entire army has fallen.]
Zechuan County was adjacent to the capital, and beyond it was Linchuan.
It was already known that due to issues in Zechuan County, the medicinal fruits from Linchuan could only be transported through Nanshui and Luoshui counties.
This urgent message from a remote area, sent thousands of miles away, had been intercepted by him.
And the Great Qian court had no idea that Linchuan had already fallen.