Chapter 1855: When Spring Freezes Blood (III)

Ding Weizeng seemed about to roar, but the blood flooding his throat left him coughing uncontrollably. As though this had triggered something within heaven and earth, the wrath brewing within the rolling black clouds found an outlet. A bolt of silver lightning struck at once!

Boom!

The powerfully built man never made a sound. His flesh burst apart in an instant, and his stark white bones shattered, cascading down like a landslide. The remnants thudded through the ruins, staining everything crimson.

His charred skull fell down the steps, striking shattered jade with a sharp clack. It rolled through scorched timbers, then into the scattered flesh, its passage soft and soundless, until it came to rest before the kneeling man in silver.

The silver-robed man stared vacantly down at it. Thunder filled his ears and reverberated through his mind, drowning out every other sound. Cold rain battered his face. Created by mana, it resisted freezing, yet carried an even more bone-piercing chill.

His mystics remained connected to the grotto heaven. Even now, he could rise and escape. But he knew that none of it mattered anymore. Everything was already over.

The youthful-looking man knelt in the pouring rain, his head bowed as he stared blankly at the charred skull.

Squelch.

The sound of boots treading through flesh and blood was startlingly distinct. A pair of gold-and-white boots stopped before him. He remained motionless, his head lowered, until at last the Daoist spoke. "Li Suining."

Only then did he react. His voice was low and hoarse as he asked, "Why?"

The Daoist raised a hand and gently opened his palm. The [Heavenly Nurturing Urn] immediately descended from the sky into his grasp, shaking violently as though some ferocious creature were trapped inside.

As the spirit treasure trembled and shook, mercury and cinnabar began manifesting around it. The man chuckled and replied, "Why? Because you guys became so formidable that they had to call upon me."

Li Suining lifted his chin slightly. Nothing but calm remained in his eyes as he asked quietly, "Lord Yao, by bringing such slaughter to the lake, where does that leave the Song Emperor?"

The Daoist casually slipped the spirit treasure into his sleeve, and every phenomenon vanished. He gazed quietly at the sky, his expression somewhere between reflection and regret. "No one paid much heed to the King of Wei's collusion with Yang Zhuo. Their Daos were different, after all. But now, well... we have helped them both fulfill their aims."

Li Suining's expression darkened. Dazedly, he turned to follow the Daoist's gaze. Surging water and fire were rising in the south. Beneath the profound darkness, a wisp of white qi shot skyward, wavering ceaselessly.

In the south, True Essence attains the Dao.

A chill gripped his entire body. He could not understand.

The Song Emperor has attained the Dao? Now? Why? How can this be?

Too early... It is all too early... How can they do this... Can they attain the Dao whenever they please?!

His thoughts seemed shattered by thunder. In alarm, he turned again toward the northern sky. At last, beneath the cover of heavy black clouds, he glimpsed a speck of descending golden light, wavering like the setting sun, barely visible on the distant horizon.

In the north, Bright Yang attains the Dao.

Li Suining squeezed his eyes shut, tears streaming down his face. Heat seethed within his chest and belly. At last, unable to contain his grief, he sobbed, "All we wanted was a way to survive. You wanted the King of Wei to seek the Golden Core Realm, and he has already reached the Wei capital...

"Why? Why could you not wait even a moment longer?!"

Boom!

Flashing lightning illuminated their faces. The downpour grew fiercer, and thunderbolts roamed the sky, watching the earth hungrily. The man in Daoist robes planted his spear upright in the bloody water and gazed at him quietly.

"Matters have already been taken beyond all remedy, Li Suining."

The torrential rain churned the bloody water into surging currents. Yet as it reached the golden boots, it parted of its own accord, leaving a patch of clean ground around him.

Yao Guanyi said softly, "That Bright Yang should fall and imperial authority never rise is indeed what the great figure desires. But is there only one great figure on the mountain? Who among them has no students or cherished disciples? In some eyes, the best outcome is naturally for the King of Wei to attain the Golden Core Realm and then perish.

"I certainly have no wish to ruin my own future, but Xuanlou must be avenged. In doing so, I have fulfilled their wishes as well."

Li Suining asked hoarsely, "What of the Underworld's judiciary? The Song Emperor?"

Yao Guanyi chuckled without answering and began pacing in silence, seemingly unwilling to explain. Yet with Li Suining's clan destroyed and his death approaching, whether out of pity or respect, Yao Guanyi finally said with some hesitation, "Li Suining, what does it mean to rectify one's nature and restrain desire?"

Li Suining knelt in the downpour, staring at him with bloodshot eyes.

Yao Guanyi returned his gaze and said evenly, "To rectify is to preserve the status quo and uphold rightful rule, to order and govern, to correct and stabilize, and to honor legitimate authority. The desire to be restrained is that which strays beyond proper bounds, becoming treachery and indulgence, greed and disorder, or the ambition to usurp another's place."

"Does slaying one's sovereign rectify what is wrong, or spring from the very desire one ought to restrain? Whose nature needs rectifying... the King of Wei's, or the Emperor of Wei's?"

Li Suining's brows shot up. Bloody tears ran down his cheeks as he said bitterly, "Then why the pretense?! Yang Zhuo breaks his word. How dare he lay claim to Truth?!"

Yao Guanyi remained silent for a long time before replying evenly, "If a king succeeds in deposing an emperor, he has rectified a wrong and slain a tyrant. If he attempts regicide and falls, he has succumbed to improper desire and been subdued by Heaven. Succeed, and he is a king who rectifies wrongs. Fail, and he is a rebel driven by unchecked desire. So it has always been. The Song Emperor believes in himself, and he also believes the King of Wei can succeed. There is no pretense in that."

Li Suining said hoarsely, "So you mean to ensure the King of Wei fails. Whether it is killing Wei Xuanyin or slaying Yan State's crown prince, those are merely excuses. His imperial presence has grown too powerful, forcing you to surround him ahead of time, make him seek the Golden Core Realm amid his nation's ruin and the chaos of war, then immediately slaughter his clan to diminish that presence."

Yao Guanyi turned away and said, "There is more to it. This matter... I am not the one directing it."

Li Suining no longer cared. Gazing into the boundless darkness, he said quietly, "Even if you act in time to salvage matters, should the King of Wei fail to claim his position, the Song Emperor's support for him can never be erased."

Yao Guanyi stood in the rain for a while, the corners of his mouth slowly lifting. He raised his spear again, weighed it in his palm, and laughed. "Li Suining, you are mistaken... You and the King of Wei are both too deeply involved to see clearly.

"Standing here in Jiangnan, you look north at the Seven Dharma Forms and the great clans and think them utter fools! They know perfectly well that those on the mountain will make the King of Wei seek the Golden Core Realm, with only his success or failure in question. Yet they still believe they can seize his destiny, throwing themselves forward one after another until nothing remains but a sea of blood...

"But from the north, your Jiangnan looks exactly the same.

"You think the Underworld's judiciary must have Yang Zhuo seek Truth, that they are begging him to ascend? You think they can accomplish nothing without him? That thinking... is no different from those northern monks who believe Luoxia truly pays no heed to the King of Wei!

"Li Suining, you are mistaken!"

Brilliant lightning illuminated the night sky once more. Yao Guanyi's expression was full of self-mockery. His spear had risen, pointing along his arm toward the youth on the ground.

"How could those great figures leave the crucial part of their plans in the hands of lesser cultivators?!" He spoke evenly, yet his words were like a chilling wind, terrifying and unfathomable. "Yang Zhuo is another King of Wei. The King of Wei under the Underworld's judiciary.

"They want him to seek it, but do not necessarily need him to succeed. Luoxia sees the King of Wei as a means to an end. How much more highly does the Underworld's judiciary regard Yang Zhuo? As long as he makes the attempt to attain a Golden Position, their purpose is served."

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