chsdbacks Chapter 292 Cession, Treaty, Tribulation of Lightning
Chapter 292 Cession, Treaty, Tribulation of Lightning
Chapter 291 Cession, Treaty, Tribulation of Lightning
The Imperial City of Dasheng, the Golden Palace.
The atmosphere at today's court assembly was so oppressive it was suffocating.
On the dragon throne, the old emperor's figure seemed more hunched than ever before, and his face appeared somewhat obscure behind the tassels.
Your Highness, instead of the respectful and solemn ranks of civil and military officials, a group of uninvited guests with domineering manners and arrogant expressions have appeared beside you.
The delegations from the Western Continent, and even more notably, the representatives of the Church of the Seven Gods, stood at the center of power in this Eastern Empire with an almost scrutinizing, even condescending, attitude.
The three leaders possessed a profound and unfathomable aura, with radiant light emanating from their bodies. Simply by standing there, they seemed to distort the surrounding light, making the air in the entire Golden Palace feel heavier.
In the center, clad in a black robe inlaid with gears and intricate runes, was the Angel King of the Church of the God of Machines, "Star Forger" Obrien. His cold, metallic prosthetic eye swept over the people in the hall, devoid of any emotion, displaying only an indifference as if he were looking at parts.
On the left, shrouded in a deep black robe that seemed to absorb all light, was Selene, the Angel Queen of the Church of the Goddess of Night, known as the "Eternal Darkness Witch." Her exquisite face bore a languid yet cruel smile as she toyed with a wisp of shadow between her fingertips, appearing nonchalant.
On the right, a burly old man dressed in magnificent golden armor and carrying a huge phantom of scales on his back is Algernon, the angel king of the Libra Goddess Church, known as the "Blade of Judgment." His gaze is sharp as an eagle's, carrying an air of majesty that seems capable of judging all living beings.
Behind the three angel kings followed four angels from the Church of Light and the Church of Storms, whose auras were slightly weaker but equally powerful.
And several "familiar" faces who were originally in charge of many affairs in the north, but suffered setbacks in Tianjin and Beijing:
The usually smiling, overweight gentleman, Churter, dressed in British style, now had a long-lost radiant smile on his face.
Because it was he who represented the three major churches in the North in the joint negotiations with the Church of Light and others.
They successfully achieved the Nine Tombs Plan, in which the three major churches sent three angel kings and the other four major churches each dispatched one angel to come to the capital to force the emperor to abdicate.
Meanwhile, Bishop Anne of the Libra Goddess Church was still dressed in a holy robe, but the caution in her eyes was gone, replaced by a condescending pity, as if she were looking at a group of lost sheep about to be converted.
Although she made a small mistake in handling the assassination of the genius Li Xijun and received a small kickback.
However, she believed that if this mission succeeded, Li Xijun, under the search and pursuit of the great Angel King, would only face death and his end.
The old knight from the Church of War, his armor gleaming, his hand always resting on his sword hilt, exuded an aura of iron will and conquest.
He gazed at the spot where the once-prodigy of war had fallen, his eyes filled with barely concealed murderous intent.
The second-rank female powerhouse from the Church of the Goddess of Night, with her cold and beautiful face and eyes as cold as ice, scanned the officials of Dasheng as if sizing up prey.
Each of them, as representatives, had their own thoughts swirling in their minds, but in the end, they all turned into the same sentiment under the powerful aura of the Angel King.
During the last major martial arts tournament between the East and West continents, although they were also envoys, they had to observe proper etiquette and show reverence to this powerful old emperor who dominated the East.
Today, however, the situation has reversed.
They represent the awakened gods, arriving with supreme power. Even this once invincible emperor is about to be forced to bow down in humiliation under their combined coercion!
"Force him to his death! Once this old bastard is dead, the Eastern Continent will be leaderless, and the remnants of the three religions will be no threat."
"This vast land, with its countless inhabitants, will become the best pasture for our deities' faith! And that brat named Li Xijun—his talent is terrifyingly extraordinary; we must find him and eliminate him as soon as possible to prevent future trouble!"
Similar thoughts echoed in the minds of these representatives and envoys.
"His Majesty,"
The voice of Obryan the Starforger, like the scraping of metal, broke the silence.
"Our Lord, the God of Machines, has awakened. His divine grace is as vast as the sea, and his divine might as powerful as a prison. All nations of the Western Continent submit to his will and revere his divine decree."
"We have come here for two reasons: first, to witness the grand ceremony marking the completion of His Majesty's nine great tombs; and second, to hope that the Eastern Continent can recognize the current situation."
His words seemed polite, but in reality, they were pressing him relentlessly:
"To prevent war and bloodshed from breaking out again on the East and West continents, Your Majesty may consider ceding the three coastal prefectures of Tianjin and Yunzhou as places for free trade and missionary work. At the same time, 90% of the annual taxes from the East continent should be handed over to the Seven Gods Church for management, to appease the gods and quell their wrath."
Selene, the Eternal Darkness Witch, chuckled softly, her voice carrying both allure and deadly danger:
"If another great war breaks out, given His Majesty's current condition, I'm afraid... he won't be able to withstand the backlash from the people's unwavering faith. The power of the common people is immense. His Majesty's current injuries mean he's barely clinging to life; why drag the entire empire down with him for a hollow reputation?"
"You...you've gone too far!" Prime Minister Moon Chi-in was trembling with anger, his face ashen, and he almost couldn't help but stand up and rebuke them.
The many officials of the Great Sheng Dynasty in the hall also showed indignation. Humiliation and anger burned in their hearts, but they were intimidated by the terrifying pressure emanating from the angel kings and could not speak freely.
The old emperor remained silent on the dragon throne.
He knew perfectly well that the other party's arrogance, constant pressure, and even the imposition of such harsh and humiliating conditions were all aimed at forcing him into a corner.
Under immense pressure, he lost his composure and chose to undergo the Nine Tombs Godhood Ritual, which seemed to be the only hope but was actually a deadly trap!
"If I hadn't already known that becoming a god requires uniqueness, this path would be completely impassable... Given my past temperament, if I had been forced into this situation, I might have risked everything, gambling on that one-in-a-million chance, and given it my life!" The old emperor sneered inwardly.
He was originally confident that he could stall these people for another half month, or even a month, to buy time.
But last night he received a secret message from Tianjin—Li Xijun had found a place to go into seclusion and was attempting to break through to the first level of the lightning tribulation.
This is a crucial signal!
Li Xijun needs time and a stable environment to undergo tribulation; he absolutely cannot be detected or disturbed by these powerful figures from the Western Continent at this moment.
In order to attract the attention of all the powerful figures in the Western and Eastern Continents, especially the awakened gods, and to draw all the open and covert attacks to themselves, Li Xijun will have precious, undisturbed time to develop.
The old emperor made a decision in an instant.
He no longer feigned compliance or tried to stall and delay as he had in the previous days.
Under the overt and covert pressure of numerous Western angels, and amidst the indignant and worried gazes of civil and military officials,
The old emperor suddenly raised his head, his tassels swaying violently, and a look of impatience and desperation, as if he had been driven to the brink, perfectly appeared on his face.
He seemed utterly enraged by the other party's contempt and coercion, or as if his vital point had been struck, causing him to lose his composure. His voice, carrying a barely perceptible tremor and a resolute tone, suddenly rang out, echoing throughout the hall:
"That's enough!"
A sharp shout silenced the hall.
The old emperor, his breathing rapid, swept his gaze intently over the three angel kings and the delegation behind them, and as if using all his strength, announced, word by word:
"These nine great tombs represent the culmination of my life's work. Since you all insist on coming to witness the ceremony... fine! I will grant your wish!"
"Three days from now, I will personally hold a ceremony at the Imperial Mausoleum for the nine great tombs! At that time, whether they succeed or fail, whether they live or die, will be left to fate!"
With this remark,
Inside the Golden Palace, the officials of the Great Sheng Dynasty all paled, with Wen Zhiyin urgently exclaiming, "Your Majesty! Please reconsider!"
On the other side, the people of the Western Continent, led by the three Angel Kings, maintained their composure on their faces, but a hint of triumphant sneer flashed in the depths of their eyes.
"As expected, this old guy finally couldn't hold on any longer; he was pushed to the limit!"
"A ceremony to become a god? Ha! Just courting death!"
"Once his ritual fails and he suffers a backlash and perishes, the greatest threat to the Eastern Continent will be completely eliminated. At that time, what trouble will the remnants of the three religions, those who perished in the last great war at the second level of the Thunder Tribulation stage, be able to cause?"
'The vast lands of the entire Eastern Continent, its billions of lives, its boundless faith… will all be ours!'
They seemed to have already seen the dawn of victory, and the future of this ancient Eastern country completely enveloped by the radiance of the gods.
the other side,
Longhu Mountain
The mountain was still shrouded in mist, still exuding an ethereal, otherworldly atmosphere.
However, Li Xijun's arrival did not attract too much attention. He passed through layers of restrictions and appeared outside the hermitage where the current Celestial Master was cultivating.
As Li Xijun released his spiritual energy, the wooden door of the hermitage opened silently, and the figure of the contemporary Celestial Master, Qingxu Zhenren, appeared at the door.
"Your Highness, it is an honor to have you here. I have failed to greet you properly."
When Master Qingxu saw the person before him, he bowed and remained calm, but there was a hint of solemnity in the depths of his eyes.
He could sense that Li Xijun before him possessed an even more unfathomable aura compared to a few months ago.
In particular, the subtle, palpable pressure that made his very soul tremble was something that no ordinary Manifestation Saint True Monarch could possess.
"You're too kind, Celestial Master. The situation is urgent, so I'll get straight to the point."
Li Xijun returned the greeting with a cupped hand, and without any pleasantries, went straight to stating his purpose: "I need to borrow your esteemed place for a period of time to go into seclusion... to undergo the tribulation of lightning."
Although he had already guessed it, when the words "crossing the tribulation of lightning" were clearly uttered by Li Xijun, Qingxu Zhenren's pupils couldn't help but shrink slightly, and his heart was filled with shock.
How long has it been?
The other party has actually gone this far.
Indeed, he possesses the bearing of a true dragon, defying conventional judgment!
He quickly suppressed his shock and, without the slightest hesitation, said in a deep voice, "Please rest assured, Your Highness. Now that Longhu Mountain has established a formal relationship with Your Highness, we will do our utmost. The secret realms where our ancestors overcame tribulations have long been prepared and are ready for Your Highness's use at any time."
"Thank you for your trouble, Master." Li Xijun nodded.
Master Qingxu said no more. With a flick of his sleeve, a beam of light flew up, and Li Xijun followed closely behind. In the next moment, they left the hermitage and appeared in a secluded valley deep in Longhu Mountain, shrouded by layers of formations.
This secluded valley may seem ordinary, with ancient trees reaching for the sky and babbling brooks, but as soon as Li Xijun stepped into this place, he keenly sensed the powerful earth energy contained in the veins of the earth beneath his feet, as well as the countless fine, ancient, layered talisman patterns and array nodes in the surrounding void.
The air was filled with the power of incense and pure yang energy accumulated over countless years, subtly in harmony with the way of heaven.
"This place is called Longevity Valley," Master Qingxu introduced. "It is a secret place for tribulation that our ancestors of Longhu Mountain have continuously developed and perfected since the time of our Celestial Master. The valley not only gathers the spiritual energy of Longhu Mountain's thousand-year-old earth veins to nourish the soul, but also contains the 'Nine Heavens Thunder-Drawing Transformation Array' and the 'Golden Light Concealment Array'."
He pointed to a seemingly ordinary stone platform in the center of the valley:
"By invoking the lightning tribulation on that platform, the great formation can operate spontaneously. On one hand, it can guide and disperse some of the lightning power, preventing it from becoming too violent and concentrated, thus weakening its initial destructive force. On the other hand, it can also greatly conceal the strange phenomena of heaven and earth caused by the tribulation. Unless it is a patriarch who has undergone two levels of lightning tribulation or an existence like the King of Angels who deliberately scans Longhu Mountain inch by inch with their divine sense, it will be extremely difficult to detect that a tribulation is taking place here."
Li Xijun scanned the area with his divine sense and nodded secretly.
Longhu Mountain truly lives up to its reputation as one of the ancestral homes of Taoism, possessing a profound cultural heritage.
This secret place is indeed mysterious, and it couldn't be more suitable for him now that he needs to act discreetly.
"Thank you, Celestial Master. This place is excellent." Li Xijun stopped being polite and said to Master Qingxu, "Please seal off the surrounding area and prevent anyone from approaching."
"That is the way it should be. Your Highness, please focus on your tribulation. I will handle everything else."
Master Qingxu solemnly promised, then his figure floated backward, while his hands waved repeatedly, forming several Taoist hand seals and special mental energy fluctuations, activating more concealment and defensive restrictions on the outer perimeter of the secluded valley, sealing the entire valley like an iron barrel.
After Master Qingxu left, only Li Xijun remained in the valley.
He took a deep breath and slowly walked towards the ancient tribulation platform in the center of the valley.
Sitting cross-legged on the stone platform, he did not immediately trigger the lightning tribulation, but instead closed his eyes to regulate his breathing.
The "Zhou Tian Xing Chen Si Xiang Jue" slowly circulated within his body, and the illusory image of the Ziwei Emperor Star floated in his dantian, governing the power of the Zhou Tian Xing Chen and the true meaning of the Four Symbols.
Within the sea of consciousness, the image of the Supreme Celestial Venerable, who embodies the unity of the three religions and has been tempered by the thunder of the main world and now exudes a faint sense of warmth, stands quietly, his majestic appearance radiating a vast and pure spiritual power.
After examining himself and finding no problems with his physical body, cultivation level, or Yin spirit, he...
Li Xijun suddenly opened his eyes, his gaze flashing with a fierce light, like thunder piercing the night sky.
He no longer suppressed his own aura, which had already reached its critical point, nor did he restrain the yang energy within his heart that stirred the secrets of heaven.
"boom--!"
As if some kind of barrier had been broken, a mysterious and profound energy, which seemed to draw upon the heavens, suddenly surged from his body.
The once clear sky was instantly filled with endless dark clouds gathering from all directions, with the area above Longhu Mountain as the center.
These dark clouds, thick as lead and swirling like ink, contained not the water vapor of ordinary rain clouds, but rather a mixture of contradictory meanings, including destruction, judgment, and rebirth.
"Sizzle—!"
Tiny bolts of electricity began to dart through the clouds, making a chilling sound.
A vast, incomparable, and ruthless pressure from heaven and earth descended as if it were a tangible force, freezing the air in the entire valley, causing the vegetation to droop and all sounds to fall silent.
Strange phenomena have occurred in the sky; the clouds of tribulation have officially appeared.
Li Xijun looked up, his gaze piercing through the array's halo in the valley, staring directly at the tribulation clouds that were constantly accumulating destructive power, as if they were about to crush everything. In his eyes, there was no fear, only an icy calmness and determination.
He laughed loudly, his voice echoing across the surrounding area:
"Come! I have been waiting for this moment for a long time!"
(End of this chapter)