Back in the Second Yan Han Empire, the place where it all began, he passed through the ancient but clearly damaged city gate, looking at the buildings on both sides that had been ravaged by war, and Zhong Shenxiu’s heart couldn’t help but fill with emotion.
Had he not taken the Su Family away in advance, few would have survived the successive rounds of military disasters.
Su Wei and Su Tang had been living with their clan inside the Wuji Pearl, and when they arrived here, Zhong Shenxiu released them.
These people merely had a look around the Su Family Manor and then hurriedly asked Zhong Shenxiu to relocate them, preferring to live permanently inside the Wuji Pearl rather than continue staying here.
The tragic state of the remaining family members staying here made their hearts ache.
As for Kerry and a few other Westerners, Zhong Shenxiu, remembering the master-servant relationship, gave them some gifts and sent them to find their own way in the Clement Kingdom.
Moments later, he walked down the long street and entered the City Lord Mansion.
Taiping Guangmiao True Monarch was already waiting in the main hall, his expression quite strange.
In the main hall, a bronze lamp was still lit.
A bit of greenish light spread, making his expression even more terrifying.
"Xun Zhenjun, have you remembered?"
Zhong Shenxiu calmed himself and asked.
"How could it be such an easy matter? Divine might is invisible, inaudible, unthinkable... I originally thought the ancient texts might have exaggerated, but now I see it’s all true..."
Taiping Guangmiao True Monarch, surnamed Xun, replied with a bitter smile, "It wasn’t from my own recollections, but after your reminder, I sought out my sect’s elder... It was only after he enlightened me with the Corpse Dissolution Immortal Position that I recalled some things... Without the Corpse Dissolution Immortal Position, I’m afraid even the Primordial Spirit Dharma Body would still be obscured, thinking everything was normal..."
He looked at Zhong Shenxiu again, leaving something unsaid.
This Young Master Shen Xiu was able to retain his memory, which showed his extraordinary abilities—either possessing some special Divine Skills or secret technique, or controlling an extremely formidable treasure or curse.
"According to scout reports from the front lines, the site of Kaleston has been razed to flat ground, leaving only ruins, as if washed away by long periods, turned into relics..."
"Right now, only a few of us remember that place was a scene of heavy casualties. Not only did we lose countless armies and Cultivators and two Corpse Dissolution Immortals, but the Westerners suffered similarly... even resulting in the destruction of a city. It’s ironically funny... Now the people in the Clement Kingdom are in chaos, they know they belong to the Clement Kingdom, yet they’ve completely forgotten the founder—Clement Medici. Even historical records and various paintings, frescoes, and sculptures are blank during that period..."
Taiping Guangmiao True Monarch seemed to gasp in shock.
The terror of the True God was only beginning to be revealed.
"Two Corpse Dissolution Immortals, two Corpse Dissolution Immortals... Although the results of the battle were substantial, with the Clement Kingdom now mostly occupied and its capital and warriors gone, it can be considered destroyed, but the cost was too terrifying..."
"This is war... From today onwards, we will use the Clement Kingdom as the battlefield, facing the forces of the Enrique Kingdom and Bauhinia Kingdom."
Zhong Shenxiu let out a long breath.
"Are we still fighting?"
Taiping Guangmiao True Monarch suddenly said with wide eyes, "We can’t afford to fight anymore... This time, the sect master demonstrated his power, which also frightened those Westerners. They don’t want to be driven to desperation, summoning such beings to gamble with their lives... Moreover, in this defense against the two kingdoms’ reinforcements, our Immortals and their Pseudo-Gods both suffered considerable injuries... It’s likely that for the next period, they will adhere to a de facto ceasefire based on their respective occupied territories..."
"No more fighting? That would be best..."
Zhong Shenxiu smiled and said, "The fear is that it’s just a ten or twenty-year truce..."
He was very clear that the existence of the "sole divinity" would continue to attract the Corpse Dissolution Immortals.
"It seems as if accommodating and assimilating the ’sole divinity’ is quite difficult... after so many years, not a single new god has emerged in the Clement Kingdom..."
"Even if it is a truce, it’s acceptable, after all, both we and they need some time to recuperate..."
Taiping Guangmiao True Monarch replied with a bitter smile.
"Looking at it this way, do both sides have their highest combat power damaged?" A glint flashed in Zhong Shenxiu’s eyes.
"It seems, fellow Daoist Shenxiu, with your Divine Light mana, you might have already reached the Primordial Spirit Peak, a half-step Dharma Body... Truly a remarkable talent, congratulations. It seems you hold no allegiance; would you consider joining our Taiping Sect?"
Taiping Guangmiao True Monarch suddenly said, "Our sect’s Yellow Heaven Miao Technique is indeed the path to cultivating the strongest Dharma Body, ranked first among the three Daoist sects! If you are willing to join, letting you observe it isn’t out of the question..."
"Among the three Daoist sects, Miao Ji Zhen Sect possesses various Core Formation Techniques, the Primordial Spirit is best cultivated in the Supreme Dragon and Tiger Sect, but the Dharma Body is where the Taiping Sect truly excels..."
Zhong Shenxiu seemed somewhat moved.
If he simply followed the path of the Supreme Dragon and Tiger Sect, that wouldn’t be a problem; it was easiest to continue down the old road.
However, his Outer Elixir Method was clearly somewhat different from the Daoist Skill of the Supreme Dragon and Tiger Sect, even more so after the Primordial Spirit.
Understanding the subtleties of the Yellow Heaven Dharma Body would naturally be more beneficial for improving his Daoist Skill.
Even, cultivating such a Dharma Body would be more powerful!
But Zhong Shenxiu still had some reservations.
Although he had no grievances with the Taiping Sect and had cooperated quite happily before, following this encounter, this True Monarch likely guessed that he carried something precious.
He had even thought that today he might meet a Corpse Dissolution Immortal of the Taiping Sect.
Now it seemed, to hold off those two reinforcing armies, the other Corpse Dissolution Immortals had also paid a certain price.
"Joining a sect rashly isn’t a good decision, and besides... I’ve already passed the initial stage, and there’s nothing much I lack... Why give others an excuse and opportunity to scheme against me?"
"Even if I were to join a sect, I’d need to choose one with a weak point, like the Supreme Dragon and Tiger Sect. It would be great if Zhang Guiji were dead; I could seize the position of sect leader..."
While Zhong Shenxiu was lost in thought, a paper Spiritual Crane flew in through the door and landed in Xun Zhenjun’s hands.
He unfolded it and his expression shifted slightly.
But in just a moment, he regained his calm.
"Is there some trouble in the East Earth?" Zhong Shenxiu asked calmly.
"It’s no big deal, just that the old emperor has finally died..." Xun Zhenjun said indifferently.
Since the heavenly sacrifice, the old emperor had become disillusioned and his health had rapidly deteriorated. Further strained by the outbreak of war and his cumbersome duties, his death was quite normal.
Thinking about it, Zhong Shenxiu felt that the old emperor was rather pitiful, more like he had been used by the Corpse Dissolution Immortals.
With Black Fog dissipated, the Second Yan Han Empire was under attack, but with the Eastern and Western barriers now down, allowing unimpeded communication, it meant those Corpse Dissolution Immortals had the chance to continue advancing.
"And this time, with a Corpse Dissolution Immortal of the Imperial Family fallen, along with a Dharma Body... the Imperial Family might face some instability, and it’s very likely they could be overthrown!"