Volume 1, Chapter 514 – Kongming

The blood rain over the summit of Penglai was far too conspicuous. Even in Jiuzhou, it could be seen with perfect clarity.

It clearly meant that the Penglai Spear God, whose name had long been known throughout the world, had already set foot upon the road to the Yellow Springs.

With that, the immortal mountain of Penglai had become a masterless land.

Some of the reclusive figures forced out by heavenly punishment could not help but stop on their way to Jiuzhou and turn instead toward Penglai.

Even if they could not take Penglai for themselves, merely bathing in the blood rain could temper their bodies and increase their cultivation. It was no different from a stroke of fortune.

Shi Lan, who had nearly reached Jiuzhou, also came to a halt. In the end, she did not choose to return. She only saluted in the direction of Penglai and bid the Spear God farewell from afar.

Tong Yuan’s attitude earlier had clearly shown that he did not want her dragged into Penglai’s strife again.

Now that the Heavenly Dao of this world was about to awaken, with her present strength, it would be difficult for her to achieve anything without relying on the White Tiger in the Qiongluo Realm.

Zhao Yun was countless times stronger than she was. If even he could not resolve the trouble ahead, she would be even less able to intervene. If she attracted heavenly punishment on top of that, she would only create further chaos.

…

…

Less than half an hour after the blood rain appeared, Penglai welcomed its first batch of uninvited guests.

In the sea, the sea clans were naturally the strongest force, and they were also the fastest at traveling across the ocean.

Outside Mount Penglai.

A group of undersea races, clad in soft scale armor and holding clear crystal spears, were lifted high by the waves and stood suspended in midair.

There were nearly a hundred of them, their auras varying in strength. Even the weakest among them could dominate among the second-rate experts of the age.

Zhao Yun sat sideways on the mountain peak, slowly wiping down the silver spear laid across his knees. The plain white mourning cloth draped over him had already been dyed red by the bloody rain falling from the sky.

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A snow-white dragon steed stood quietly at his side. Looking at the sea clans in the distance, its glossy black eyes revealed unmistakable killing intent.

“Ooooo…”

A deep, drawn-out cry rippled across the sea. The crimson waters surged into towering waves, as though they meant to swallow Penglai whole and bury it beneath the ocean floor.

“Whoever trespasses a single step into Penglai dies!”

Silver lightning rose with a shrill scream. An incomparably resplendent divine phoenix spread its wings, and its piercing cry shook the nine heavens, nearly tearing apart heaven and earth.

Boom!

The giant wave that came roaring in collapsed and was drowned in silver lightning. Dozens of figures hidden within it disintegrated instantly, their flesh and blood blending into the exploding spray without raising the slightest ripple.

Of the nearly hundred sea clansmen, more than half died in an instant.

A few breaths later, the collapsed giant wave gathered itself once more, but it no longer lunged toward Penglai. Clearly, Zhao Yun’s strength had shocked them and filled them with fear, and thoughts of retreat had arisen in their hearts.

“Since you came, then stay and see my master off.”

Zhao Yun clearly had no intention of letting the matter end there. He vaulted onto the dragon steed and gave chase in a single instant.

When he thrust out his spear again, the divine phoenix was nowhere to be seen. In its place were several silver thunder dragons, rumbling as they crushed through the air. Their momentum was overwhelming, carrying a heaven-shattering force of destruction.

Bang!

The giant wave collapsed once more. The sea clans within it did not escape. They were crushed together with the silver thunder dragons into a paste of blood and flesh.

Spear in hand and mounted on his horse, Zhao Yun swept his gaze over the figures approaching from afar, his eyes growing darker.

“If you cannot bear for the Spear God to leave this world alone, then I shall send you to accompany him!”

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…

…

Nanyang, in eastern Jiuzhou.

Nanyang was a place of clear spiritual beauty and soaring fortune, resting its head upon Funiu and planting its feet in the Han River, with roads leading in all directions.

Its people and land had always produced heroes. Ever since the age of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors in antiquity, outstanding men and mighty figures had emerged from this land in endless numbers.

Liu Xiu, Emperor Guangwu of the Great Han, had also raised his army from this very place, soaring like a dragon into the nine heavens, crushing Wang Mang, the emperor of the Xin Dynasty, and continuing the Great Han. Because of this, the region was also known as the Imperial Homeland.

Despite the many wars raging outside, this place remained a peaceful pure land.

A pure land in troubled times was either a mirage-like dreamscape, or else there was some even more terrifying force suppressing the area and keeping all disorder at bay.

A hundred li west of Nanyang City lay a mountain range of rolling ridges, shaped like a crouching dragon. Vast spiritual qi, visible to the naked eye, was drawn in through the dragon’s head and gathered into clouds within its belly.

Such a blessed land was no less than the immortal mountains overseas. Living here for a long time, even without knowing the methods of cultivation, one could still prolong one’s life and preserve one’s health.

A secluded valley lay within the dragon’s belly. Thatched cottages stretched throughout it in overlapping layers, and one glance was enough to leave the eye dazzled and the mind entranced.

“All the feudal lords of the realm are now heading to the divine capital to rescue His Majesty. Lord Liu is a kinsman of the Han imperial house, yet you sit here drinking tea and chatting with me. That hardly seems appropriate, does it?”

A soft laugh drifted from one of the thatched cottages, its sound like a breeze brushing through leaves, gentle and lingering like autumn speech.

“Even if the crisis at the divine capital can be resolved, it cannot avert the collapse of the Great Han. It would be of no use.”

Liu Bei sat kneeling behind a low table, looking at the young man before him as he spoke solemnly,

“I wish to ask Master Kongming what method might save the common people of the world from their present suffering.”

“May I ask whether Lord Liu simply wishes to save the state of the Great Han, or whether you mean to take Heaven’s place yourself?”

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Zhuge Liang set down the feather fan in his hand and asked the heart-piercing question directly.

“So long as the suffering of the people under heaven can be relieved, either is acceptable.”

Liu Bei remained calm and composed, his expression unchanged in the slightest.

Zhuge Liang rose and slowly walked to the doorway, then said lightly,

“The true dragon of the nation’s fortune has been slain. Those imperial kinsmen with somewhat stronger bloodlines are likely not long for this world. Even Lord Liu must have been affected to some degree, correct?”

“My lifespan has suffered some damage, and my blood and qi have been cut by thirty percent. Aside from that, there is no major problem.”

Liu Bei did not conceal it. The national fortune of the Great Han was tied to all imperial descendants. In prosperity they prospered together, and in decline they suffered together.

“At present, heroes are rising everywhere under heaven. I know the Zhuge family is also watching and waiting. After all, this concerns the fate of the clan. One wrong move, and the whole game is lost.”

After he finished speaking, a long silence followed.

When Zhuge Liang still did not speak after quite some time, Liu Bei added, “I am not the best choice, but I can make one promise. No matter what the future may bring, Master, you shall sit as my equal. Nor do I ask the Zhuge family for its full support. I ask only for your aid alone.”

Zhuge Liang did not turn around. He lifted his head to gaze at the sky, and tracks of the sun and moon appeared within his eyes. The fingers hidden in his wide sleeves moved lightly.

After a long while, the strange phenomenon in his eyes faded. He turned back to look at Liu Bei, and a trace of surprise flashed through his gaze.

“Master, what do you think?”

Liu Bei asked with an unchanged expression, but beneath his wide sleeves, his palm slowly tightened of its own accord.

“My lord esteems me so highly that Liang is truly overwhelmed.”

Zhuge Liang smiled faintly and bowed.

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At once, Liu Bei was overjoyed and rose somewhat awkwardly to help him up.

“There is no need for such courtesy, Master. To gain your assistance is my, Liu Bei’s, good fortune!”

“The Great Han already shows the signs of a fallen nest. There is no hope of saving it. At present, the first priority is self-preservation. Only then can we speak of the state.”

Zhuge Liang shook his head slightly and continued,

“All the feudal lords under heaven have gone to Luoyang, and the defenses in every region are now weak. My lord would do better to act against the grain. Under the pretext of pacifying disorder, you should first swallow provinces and annex territory.”

“Given the strategic position of Youzhou, within one month it would be enough to swallow Jizhou, Bingzhou, and Qingzhou, overlooking the Central Plains from above. Then move north to subdue the lands beyond the frontier passes, and more than half the world would fall into your grasp.”

“At that time, you could gather more than half the earth-vein qi of Jiuzhou and reconsolidate the dragon of fortune. Using the land itself to nurture heavenly might, over the passing years you would then possess the foundation to ascend to the heavenly throne…”

“Big Brother!”

Before Zhuge Liang could finish speaking, a shout came from outside the cottage. Zhang Fei strode in quickly, his expression grave.

“What is it?”

Seeing that something was wrong with Zhang Fei’s face, Liu Bei frowned slightly, his heart giving an involuntary jolt.

“The Spear God is dead. Zilong is probably still at Penglai right now, and the situation doesn’t look good. There has still been no movement at all from Gongsun Zan’s side.”

Liu Bei quickly understood what Zhang Fei meant. Penglai itself was a vast treasure trove, rich in immortal metals and spiritual herbs, a tremendous source of military capital.

By the same token, now that it had lost the protection of someone at the absolute peak, it would attract countless ambitious predators.

Liu Bei pondered for a moment, then slowly lifted his head, his eyes resolute.

“We’re going to bring Zilong back.”