Chapter 883: Heavenly Mandate Edict
Wan Zhaoyi's eyes, forged like golden metal, swept across the surroundings, searching for traces of Zhang Ruochen.
If someone could observe him up close, they would notice that the shape of his pupils resembled two golden divine lions.
That was the "Lion-Tibetan Golden Pupils," a legendary eye technique said to belong only to Lion Clan Great Saints, capable of seeing through all illusions in the world.
Seeing Wan Zhaoyi unleash the Lion-Tibetan Golden Pupils, even Zhang Ruochen showed a solemn expression, quite worried whether the Black Tortoise Concealing Heaven Grand Formation arranged by Xiao Hei could block Wan Zhaoyi's probing.
Xiao Hei, however, appeared full of confidence, saying, "So it's the rare Lion-Tibetan Golden Pupils. This Wan Zhaoyi is no ordinary person; he has the potential of a Great Saint. If it were just a simple Black Tortoise Concealing Heaven Grand Formation, he might indeed see through it."
"But the terrain here is special. The formation I arranged is completely fused with the terrain, becoming part of the earth itself. Even the Lion-Tibetan Golden Pupils cannot see through it."
A bridge formed of words, spanning a thousand miles, hung in midair.
On that bridge of words stood a stunning woman with rosy lips and white teeth, standing proudly like a banished immortal descending to the mortal world.
Her beauty was naturally enough to topple kingdoms, but even more astonishing was her elegant and pure temperament, enough to overshadow any proud daughter of nobility.
"Words forming a bridge, qi connecting to clouds. Could this be a spiritual power saint from the Confucian path?"
Li Min widened her eyes, staring at the white-robed woman above, filled with amazement.
Her greatest dream had always been to cultivate in the Four Confucian Sects, and if she could reach the level of a spiritual power half-saint, that would be the best outcome.
Zhang Ruochen glanced upward and said calmly, "Shengshu Cainü, Nalan Danqing."
In truth, Zhang Ruochen hadn't expected to see Shengshu Cainü again so soon.
"She... she is Shengshu Cainü... oh my heavens..."
Li Min trembled with excitement, her legs weak, feeling like she might faint, and she collapsed onto Zhang Ruochen.
"What's wrong?"
Zhang Ruochen extended a hand to support her.
"Shengshu Cainü is truly as beautiful as a celestial maiden... ah... Zhang Ruochen, I'm going to die... I actually saw Shengshu Cainü..."
Li Min was extremely excited, almost delirious, tightly gripping Zhang Ruochen's arm and biting down on it.
If Zhang Ruochen hadn't held her up, she might have knelt and worshipped on the spot.
Well, a saint of the Confucian path appearing, and a renowned proud daughter of heaven at that, any Confucian disciple would likely kneel and bow before her.
Did Shengshu Cainü have such charm?
Zhang Ruochen couldn't understand Li Min's feelings at all, merely shaking his head before continuing to watch the two figures flying above.
Shengshu Cainü stared at Wan Zhaoyi and asked, "Where is the Skyward Sword?"
Wan Zhaoyi retracted his Lion-Tibetan Golden Pupils, returning to a calm state, and said, "Chasing it here, the Skyward Sword vanished without a trace. Zhang Ruochen should be hiding nearby. It seems we'll have to use the Heavenly Mandate Edict to force him out."
"Wait, it's best not to use the Heavenly Mandate Edict lightly, lest it disrupt the sacred dao rules of the surrounding area. This place is only a few hundred miles from Ziyong Pass. Once the Heavenly Mandate Edict is activated, the Ministry of War's camp would have to relocate, causing too much trouble."
Having said this, Shengshu Cainü opened her heavenly eye and began to observe the surroundings.
After examining for a moment, she closed her heavenly eye and said, "Neither your Lion-Tibetan Golden Pupils nor my heavenly eye can find Zhang Ruochen. That boy must have fled far away. Zhang Ruochen likely mastered spatial techniques similar to wormholes, already retrieving the Skyward Sword. Spatial power is truly mysterious and infinite."
In truth, Wan Zhaoyi also suspected Zhang Ruochen had already escaped. After all, his Lion-Tibetan Golden Pupils could see through concealment formations. How could a mere half-saint evade his eyes?
"Fine. Since Zhang Ruochen dares to come to Zhongyuan Commandery, there will naturally be other opportunities to deal with him. Let's return to Ziyong Pass first, to avoid any further changes." Wan Zhaoyi said.
"Shua!"
A flash of golden light passed, and Wan Zhaoyi left first, leaving only Shengshu Cainü in the sky.
Shengshu Cainü's starry eyes glanced downward, then she waved her folding fan, and together with the bridge of words, it flowed back.
After the two left, Zhang Ruochen asked, "What is the Heavenly Mandate Edict?"
Li Min patted her chest, letting out a long breath, and said, "Thankfully, Shengshu Cainü persuaded Wan Zhaoyi not to use the Heavenly Mandate Edict, or we would all have died here."
"The Heavenly Mandate Edict is the succession edict left by the Heavenly Mandate Great Emperor, containing the imperial qi of his entire life. Whoever obtains the Heavenly Mandate Edict can command the world, using imperial qi to change the sacred dao rules and become the new emperor of the Heavenly Mandate Central Empire."
"Of course, with the Heavenly Mandate Great Emperor's passing, the Heavenly Mandate Central Empire fell seven thousand years ago, becoming distant history. Now, with Empress Chi Yao ruling the world and unmatched in power, even if Wan Zhaoyi obtains the Heavenly Mandate Edict, he can only use it as a powerful treasure, unable to establish his own kingdom."
Zhang Ruochen had naturally heard of the legends about the Heavenly Mandate Great Emperor. It was said that after the Middle Ages, the entire Kunlun Realm fell into chaos, and it was the Heavenly Mandate Great Emperor who used supreme divine abilities to establish the first central empire in the Southern Domain.
The Heavenly Mandate Central Empire was once powerful, but after the Heavenly Mandate Great Emperor died, the empire had no successor and split apart, plunging the Southern Domain into chaos again.
It wasn't until thirty years ago that the Heavenly Mandate Great Emperor's imperial tomb flew out from deep underground. After much competition, Wan Zhaoyi ultimately overpowered all others and seized the Heavenly Mandate Great Emperor's inheritance.
The Heavenly Mandate Edict was the most precious treasure in the imperial tomb.
"Wan Zhaoyi becoming the number one person in the entire Kunlun Realm over the past century is naturally due to his overwhelming fortune." Zhang Ruochen said.
Zhang Ruochen also silently warned himself to be more cautious in the future. When encountering figures like Wan Zhaoyi, even those old antiques who had lived for centuries would likely choose to retreat.
Although Wan Zhaoyi and Shengshu Cainü had left, Zhang Ruochen knew that with their powerful cultivation, they would still have their five senses and spiritual power enveloping this area.
Therefore, he waited until late the next night before putting on the Meteor Invisibility Cloak, wrapping himself and Li Min in it, and leaving the area.
On the morning of the third day, Zhang Ruochen and Li Min appeared in a small town three thousand miles from Ziyong Pass, sitting at a street stall eating simple food.
Given Zhang Ruochen's current realm, he naturally didn't need to eat grains, but Li Min couldn't do the same. Even as a spiritual power genius, she was still a mortal body.
Though the town was small, it had all the essentials, with roads leading in all directions. Merchant caravans and martial artists came and went in an endless stream.
The news of Zhang Ruochen splitting Ziyong Pass with a single sword strike spread throughout Zhongyuan Commandery in an extremely short time, even reaching the ears of common folk like peddlers and porters, who all discussed it.
"Ever since Zhang Ruochen came to Yuan Mansion, he hasn't stopped. First, he killed four half-saints from the Ministry of War, and now he's taken the initiative to attack the Ministry of War's camp, splitting Ziyong Pass in two."
"The Ministry of War has lost all face. It's said that Wan Zhaoyi has declared he will capture Zhang Ruochen within three months."
"Since Wan Zhaoyi rose to fame, no one he's targeted has ever survived three months. This time should be no exception."
...
Sitting by the street, one could hear all sorts of rumors, though some were exaggerated. Some even claimed Zhang Ruochen had fought Wan Zhaoyi for a day and a night, sinking Ziyong Pass into the ground.
Hearing this, Zhang Ruochen just smiled faintly, realizing how unreliable so-called legends could be.
"It took me quite some effort to find you."
Suddenly, a somewhat aged figure appeared from nowhere, walked into the stall's awning, and unceremoniously sat down opposite Zhang Ruochen.
Seeing the aged figure, Li Min turned pale with fright, immediately stood up, and tremblingly bowed, saying, "Greetings, Ancestor."
The arriving elder was the Li family's ancestor, Li Ku half-saint.
"You sure know how to cause trouble. I'll deal with you later."
Li Ku half-saint glared at Li Min, snorted coldly, then turned his gaze to Zhang Ruochen, slightly cupping his hands, and said, "Young Master Zhang, the clan leader wants to see you."
Zhang Ruochen seemed to have anticipated this, showing no surprise, and simply nodded lightly, saying, "Please lead the way, Elder."
The Zhenyu Ancient Clan's influence indeed extended to every corner of Yuan Mansion. Zhang Ruochen and Li Min had arrived at this town the previous night. By morning, Li Ku half-saint had found them.
This showed that they had likely been watched the moment they entered the town.
Soon after Zhang Ruochen, Li Ku half-saint, and Li Min left, the Ministry of War's experts arrived, only to find nothing. (To be continued.)