Chapter 935: One Temple Rules the World, Xining?
Tang Thirty-Six looked into Chen Changsheng’s eyes and asked very seriously, “Do you trust your teacher?”
Chen Changsheng said, “My master’s wisdom is unparalleled, his vision sharp. Even the Black Robe cannot completely obscure all the secrets of heaven. I believe his judgment will not be wrong.”
Tang Thirty-Six said, “You know that’s not what I meant.”
Chen Changsheng was silent for a moment, then said, “To my master, killing me and subjugating the state religion are the most important things. But eliminating the demon race and having humanity unify the continent is his lifelong wish, the ideal he has pursued all his life. In this regard, I have absolute trust in him.”
For the history of the continent, the most significant change was the alliance between the human race and the demon race.
It was based on this that Emperor Taizong was able to lead the allied forces of the two races on a northern expedition and drive the demons back to the snowy, windswept wastelands.
In the following centuries, humanity had enough time to recuperate and grow stronger, to the point where the demons could no longer easily march south.
If the demon race suddenly tore up their agreement with the humans and turned their coats, what would happen?
Between Shang Xingzhou and Chen Changsheng, there was no conflict of ideals, but a conflict of Dao.
Chen Changsheng was the only flaw in Shang Xingzhou’s Dao, so Shang Xingzhou had to find a way to erase his existence.
However, compared to this great matter, it was nothing.
Just as Shang Xingzhou had said in his letter.
White Emperor City must not be lost.
A rare serious expression appeared on Tang Thirty-Six’s face. He said, “Then we must prevent this from happening.”
Fortunately, all of this was still just speculation, not yet reality.
Humanity still had time to react.
If it weren’t for Shang Xingzhou’s extremely keen perception of those problems and his decisive judgment with great boldness, the situation would have become very dire.
Thinking of this, even though their positions and camps were different, Tang Thirty-Six couldn’t help but feel a sense of admiration for this Daoist Master.
Chen Changsheng walked to the window, raised the Stainless Sword in his hand, and silently used his Wisdom Sword to deduce for a long time, but still couldn’t get a definite answer.
“The demon race… could they really ally with the demons?”
Looking back at the history books, the relationship between the demon race and the demons was marked by bloodstains and the demon race’s tragic experiences.
Logically, the demon race could never forget those hatreds, let alone ally with the demons.
Hu Sanshi’er said, “Actually, this matter isn’t entirely impossible. Don’t forget that a thousand years ago, the relationship between humans and the demon race was also very bad. If the demons are willing to pay a sufficient price to appease the demon race’s hatred, then the demon race might really turn to their side.”
Tang Thirty-Six said, “The problem is motive. If Madam Mu is willing to take risks for the Western Continent, how could the demon race’s ministers and generals agree?”
Hu Sanshi’er’s gaze fell on the letter in Chen Changsheng’s hand, and he said, “Perhaps this is the reason.”
Tang Thirty-Six also looked over, but didn’t understand what he meant.
“The demons have been in decline for a thousand years. Even if a new ruler ascends, they probably can’t restore their terrifying strength from the past in a short time. Meanwhile, our human race has grown stronger and stronger over this millennium. As the Azure-robed guest lamented at the peak, there are too many geniuses and strong practitioners on our side.”
Hu Sanshi’er looked at Chen Changsheng seriously and said, “You also said earlier that the Daoist Master has always been determined to carry on Emperor Taizong’s legacy, to eliminate the demons and unify the continent. Then how should the demon race handle themselves? Pay tribute as vassals, or become slaves of the demons like in ancient times?”
Tang Thirty-Six said, “The current White Emperor is a hegemon of his generation. Does he not even have that much confidence?”
Hu Sanshi’er was silent for a moment, then said, “In the past few years, a saying has been circulating across the entire continent.”
Chen Changsheng was slightly startled and asked, “What saying?”
Hu Sanshi’er said, “One temple in Xining rules the world.”
Chen Changsheng fell silent, and Tang Thirty-Six also fell silent.
The meaning of this saying was very clear. It referred to the story of the past ten-plus years and the current history.
Then, looking further ahead, what would one see?
If Shang Xingzhou and Chen Changsheng reconciled, along with the Emperor, the three of them working together, who on this continent could be a match for the human race?
Even the White Emperor, looking at this trio of master and disciples from the Xining Temple, would inevitably feel intense fear and unease.
If this were impossible, it might be fine. But in many people’s eyes, the problem between Shang Xingzhou and Chen Changsheng shouldn’t have existed in the first place.
A great figure like the White Emperor might even think that the confrontation between Shang Xingzhou and Chen Changsheng was a deception created by the master and disciple themselves.
Chen Changsheng didn’t respond to Hu Sanshi’er’s gaze. His eyes fell on the letter paper.
At the end of the letter, Shang Xingzhou had written four characters: Watch and wait.
To watch, one had to be present.
He said, “Let’s handle this matter first.”
Hu Sanshi’er said, “Naturally. It’s just that we don’t know when the White Emperor City will hold the Heaven Selection Ceremony. Since the Li Palace is taking the lead, the state religion delegation should be formed quickly.”
Chen Changsheng said, “The time for the Heaven Selection Ceremony probably hasn’t been set yet, but the White Emperor City’s intentions are clear. Even if they can’t keep this matter hidden forever, they won’t want us to suddenly interfere. They won’t give us time to make arrangements, so I’ll go ahead first, and the delegation will follow later.”
Hu Sanshi’er said, “Understood.”
Tang Thirty-Six said, “I’ll go back to Wenshui first.”
A large part of the demon race’s business was handled by the Tang Clan. The relationship between Wenshui City and White Emperor City had always been good.
Since this matter concerned the future of humanity, the old master Tang naturally wouldn’t stand idly by and would likely make some corresponding arrangements.
Chen Changsheng nodded and said, “Then I’ll go ahead.”
Just then, a clear crane cry suddenly came from above the prince’s mansion.
The winter wind howled, the green trees in the courtyard swayed wildly, and a white crane descended.
Prince Louyang knelt far away on the porch, respectfully seeing Chen Changsheng off.
Tang Thirty-Six finally couldn’t help but ask, “Why did the Daoist Master have the prince deliver this letter?”
Chen Changsheng said, “The prince was spending the winter at Mount Xiao last night, the closest place here.”
Tang Thirty-Six thought this was clearly illogical.
If the court wanted to send a message, whether by red eagle, red goose, or formation transmission, it could reach the Runan Prince’s Mansion directly. Why bother having Prince Louyang make this trip?
Chen Changsheng knew he couldn’t convince him. After a moment of silence, he said, “My master knows that I trust him relatively more.”
Tang Thirty-Six was even more confused, wondering why he trusted this prince, who was famous for his cowardice.
Chen Changsheng didn’t explain further. He mounted the crane and rose.
One man and one crane drifted up into the clouds.
The Tong River became an indistinct thin ribbon, and the Luomei Mountain Range behind them to the left looked like a bonsai.
Far to the west, mist and clouds lingered faintly, green mountains stretched into the distance. He didn’t know what was waiting for him there.
…
…
The Azure Mountains were everywhere, with seas of clouds between them, looking like mist across a lake, or like the cooking smoke rising from the streets and alleys of the capital on a deep winter morning.
Luo Luo sat by the mountain, looking at the clouds and mist below the cliff. Her small figure seemed somewhat fragile.
If one saw her from the front, they would surely feel this way, because although there was much reminiscence in her picturesque brows and eyes, they were still calm.
Lady Li looked at her, a look of pity in her eyes, because in her view, Her Highness had been very lonely these past few years, and increasingly so.