Chapter 266: Chapter 138: Top 100 Divine Techniques List

Years ago, outside the Daqi Imperial City, Zhuge Mo’s Golden Core was tainted. He dared not tell anyone, fearing it would bring a fatal calamity. He continuously used Daqi’s National Fortune to wash his Golden Core, hoping to cleanse the terrifying Great Medicine clinging to it.

Alas.

Years passed.

To no avail!

"AHHH!"

"Your Majesty, save me!"

Zhuge Mo let out a long cry, his hopeful gaze fixed on the Daqi Imperial City. He yearned for Emperor Tianqi to once again sacrifice the Dynasty’s fortune and save him, just as he had done before.

But alas.

Emperor Tianqi did nothing.

’Mr. Chu’s disappearance... it had something to do with you, didn’t it, National Master Zhuge?’

’Why? After I gave you so much, you were still not satisfied. Why did you have to force my hand, to make me seem faithless and unjust? I... no. *This Emperor* has given you more than enough.’

Snow stood by and watched.

Zhuge Mo was incredulous. Emperor Tianqi was actually abandoning him—the one and only Golden Core Great Cultivator in the entire Eastern Domain—for a mere Nine-Life Celestial Pride! Wasn’t he afraid that the Daqi Dynasty would fall into decline, no longer able to fend off the Five Great Sects and the other Three Great Dynasties that also walked the path of Gathering Fortune? Wasn’t he afraid they would annex Daqi?

"I am a Golden Core!"

"The Eastern Domain’s number one Golden Core Great Cultivator!"

"You think you’re worthy of killing me?! As for this Daqi Dynasty, I, Zhuge Mo, am better off without it."

Zhuge Mo roared, charging at the eight True Core Masters. In that moment, he betrayed Daqi, seeking to escape to his own salvation. A terrifying Divine Technique began to coalesce on his Golden Core.

That night, a shockwave went through the Eastern Domain. Zhuge Mo, its only Golden Core cultivator, had detonated his tainted Golden Core while besieged by eight True Core Masters.

Of the eight Masters, one fell! Three were grievously wounded! The remaining four returned to their respective Sects and immediately entered secluded cultivation.

It seemed the Profound Celestial Sect’s luck had run out.

The True Core Master who fell in that battle was, once again, a giant from the Profound Celestial Sect. From that day forward, the Profound Celestial Sect no longer had a place among the True Core powers of the Eastern Domain.

Seeing this, the Four Great Sects, which had only just settled down, began to stir restlessly once more.

Being the number one Sect in the Eastern Domain was about more than just a title.

It came with fortune!

Fortune on par with a Celestial Dynasty!

As for Zhuge Mo, his cultivation fell from the Golden Core realm. He fled and vanished without a trace.

"What a grand show."

"Heh."

Su Chen watched with a faint smile. This terrifying clash of giants could alter the course of the Eastern Domain for a thousand years to come, but in his eyes, it was nothing more than a good show.

’Zhuge Mo had sounded so righteous and indignant. But in the end, I saw it clearly—he just fled into the Daqi Imperial Capital to recuperate.’

"The wine’s gone."

"Time to go get another jug."

Su Chen rode his Cyan Ox, slowly making his way down the mountain.

He was dressed in robes as black as ink, his dark hair dancing wildly in the wind. His eyes held a mix of defiance and wild arrogance, as if there were nothing and no one in this world worthy of his attention.

It was the middle of winter.

Dark clouds churned overhead as snowflakes drifted down, burying the wreckage left behind by the battle between the True Core Giants.

Generals led their troops to the frontiers, continuing to carry out Emperor Tianqi’s command: attack other nations and forcibly gather more National Fortune.

Here in the Imperial City, he saw nobles and dignitaries gathering with a number of Core Formation Great Cultivators. They were plotting a coup, aiming to seize the fruits of Emperor Tianqi’s long-paved path to a Celestial Dynasty.

But what did any of this have to do with him?

’Chu Shan is already dead.’

’I will help you.’

’But only once, an act on behalf of Void.’

’After that, I won’t help you again.’

Su Chen gazed toward the Imperial Palace. In the distance, he could faintly make out a figure in a Silver Radiance Emperor’s Robe standing firm in the snow, cutting a lonely and desolate figure.

Two years ago, in the name of the Daqi Celestial Dynasty, he had shaken the Eastern Domain World. He had even created a Golden Core cultivator, suppressed the Five Great Sects, and stood like the sun at noon, his prestige at its absolute zenith.

At that time, he was at the height of his glory, brimming with heroic spirit. He looked ready to annex a thousand nations and sweep through the entire Immortal Dao Realm.

Now.

In just two short years.

His Golden Core had defected!

The Five Sects had joined forces once more!

The people’s hearts were wavering!

The Daqi Dynasty he built with his own hands showed signs of an imminent, thunderous collapse.

’Where did I go wrong?’

Snow was filled with doubt.

He had the ruthlessness of an Emperor.

But he could not see through the hearts of men. In the end, he had failed to control a Golden Core cultivator, personally creating the very crisis he now faced.

"It matters not!"

"You’ve lost one Golden Core."

"So become a Golden Core yourself!"

"Those five Nascent Souls are still a long way from escaping Extreme Realm Heaven. There is still time... there is still time..."

The white-haired, black-eyed figure from the Great Xuan Celestial Dynasty said, standing beside him.

"Alright."

Snow clenched his fists.

He would reach Core Formation! He would forge a Golden Core!

If he couldn’t rely on others, then he would do it himself.

And so, that very night.

In the Daqi Dynasty, three Core Formation Great Cultivators, along with the Civil and Military Officials and titled nobles who fed upon the Dynasty’s fortune, stormed the palace. They demanded that Emperor Tianqi abdicate.

After all, this Emperor no longer had a Golden Core Giant by his side to hold the world in check for him.

In just two short years.

Even with a soaring National Fortune, it was impossible to create a Core Formation Great Cultivator in such a short time. Emperor Tianqi’s foundation was simply too shallow.

「The next day.」

Emperor Tianqi entered seclusion.

The Civil and Military Officials, along with the Core Formation Giants, propped up a scion from a collateral branch of the family with Daqi King Blood and placed him on the throne.

Facing pressure from the Five Great Sects, the new regime sent a Messenger to sue for peace. But against the other Three Great Dynasties, they struck out with full force.

However, the Five Great Sects’ condition for peace was simple.

The execution of Emperor Tianqi!

But this was impossible. The path to a Celestial Dynasty was converged upon Emperor Tianqi himself. If he died, the fortune that the Civil and Military Officials enjoyed as Tributors to the Dynasty would completely dissipate.

The Eastern Domain was in utter Chaos.

A vicious war between the Five Sects, the Daqi Celestial Dynasty, and the other Three Great Dynasties was now inevitable. It was only a matter of time.

「End of the Tenth Year of Tianqi.」

A great snow sealed the heavens.

A White-clothed Daoist tore through the storm-filled sky and descended. He traveled step by step from the distant Profound Celestial Sect, finally arriving at the Daqi Imperial City.

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