Chapter 291 The True Celestial Empire

Chapter 291 The True Celestial Empire

Chapter 291 The True Celestial Empire (Part 1)
In fact, there are so many auspicious signs during the reign of Emperor Wanshou. However, 99% of them are false and absurd. Even a person winning six prizes in a row can be used as a good omen.

It's really ridiculous and his shamelessness is beyond imagination!
But the birth of the Heavenly Palace today is a real auspicious sign that has attracted the attention of all people. Its value is immeasurable and is completely different from those false auspicious signs.

Someone will certainly say that these six poems impressed the God of Literature during the imperial examination, how glorious it was.

But think about it carefully, what if this is just a coincidence? Or is it a false illusion created by some clever magic? As long as we analyze it in depth afterwards, we can always find the flaws.

However, the current "Heavenly Palace" is completely different.

It just quietly floated above the Tiangongyuan, like a god's residence from outer space, emitting a majestic power that made people feel awe.

Moreover, everyone witnessed the coming of the heavenly punishment! The thunder of the heavenly punishment rolled, and the lightning danced like a silver snake, raging over the Heavenly Palace, but failed to destroy it.

Instead, it was like a sacred baptism, making the Heavenly Palace even more mysterious and powerful, turning it into a magical palace that had been tempered by heavenly punishment.

Western missionary Zhou Taixuan has now transformed himself into a court painter.

When this guy arrived at the Great Yu Dynasty, he quickly learned how to curry favor with others. He keenly captured and meticulously painted this shocking scene of the birth of the Heavenly Palace.

He knew very well that with this painting, he would be able to flatter the old emperor.

After all, this was shocking enough. He had heard of the miracle of the "Hanging Gardens" in ancient Babylon, but that was only hearsay after all. Now that he had witnessed the birth of the Heavenly Palace with his own eyes, he truly understood what it meant to be shocking. The dual impact of vision and soul made him eager to use this painting to please the superior.

The two, Tian Ling Shang Ren and Gu Lao Dao, were both extraordinary geniuses in mechanical engineering. The Heavenly Palace they designed was truly a masterpiece of divine craftsmanship.

Tiangong has three sets of exquisite power sources.

One is the soul stone mechanism. The soul stone emits a mysterious glow and contains powerful energy, providing stable power for the operation of the Heavenly Palace.

The second is the faith of all living beings. The sincere prayers of countless people have gathered into an invisible but powerful force, enabling the Heavenly Palace to stand tall in the void of the past.

Finally, there is a steam engine as a backup!
Only by standing under the Heavenly Palace in person and witnessing its operation with your own eyes can you truly experience this incomparable shock and feel the wonder of the fusion of human wisdom and the power of heaven and earth.

Under the precise control of Master Tianling and Taoist Gu, the Heavenly Palace slowly flew up and headed towards the top of Zhongshan Mountain.

Zhongshan, the place where royal energy gathers, has been full of mystery since ancient times.

It must be said that the principles of the world are often connected when they reach a high level. Xu Qing once flew to the top of Zhongshan Mountain in an extraordinary state, absorbing the rich purple energy of the morning sun to temper the Purple Emperor Dragon Armor.

Now, the Heavenly Palace has also arrived at the top of Zhongshan Mountain, floating there quietly, continuously absorbing the royal energy, and even collecting the morning sun's purple energy at sunrise.

In this process, the Heavenly Palace is like a greedy practitioner, constantly absorbing the essence of heaven and earth. Its overall structure becomes more and more smooth and natural, and its quality is constantly improving.

In fact, although the current Tiangong has a strong ability to suspend in the air and exudes a mysterious aura all the time, its attack power is still slightly weak.

However, as time goes by and everyone's continuous efforts, the perfection of the Heavenly Palace is just around the corner, and sooner or later it will become an indestructible and terrifying magic weapon.

Looking back to the past, the Great Leiyin Temple of the Venerable Sakyamuni was a terrifying magic weapon derived from the inner world. With this treasure, the Venerable Sakyamuni traveled across India, sweeping away all obstacles with overwhelming force, shattering the previous era of practice in India and establishing an incomparably glorious Buddhist kingdom on earth.

The future of the Heavenly Palace is also full of infinite possibilities. One day it may even be able to compete with the Creator's inner world and shake the sky.

The Heavenly Palace was floating steadily on the top of Zhongshan Mountain. The light around it became increasingly dazzling. The light was like a scorching sun, illuminating the entire Zhongshan Mountain.

Under the reflection of this light, the whole Zhongshan seemed to be shrouded in a layer of sacred glory, like a dream, like a fairyland. Countless people knelt down to worship, their eyes full of awe and piety, and regarded the Heavenly Palace as a divine object sent down from heaven, a symbol of the prosperity of the Great Yu Dynasty. At this moment, the people of the Celestial Empire were no longer a label for self-praise. A kind of great country, with all-powerful demeanor, naturally grew...

The news spread quickly to every corner of the Dayu Dynasty as if it had wings.

This grand event not only made the people of the Dayu Dynasty feel extremely proud, but also attracted the attention of neighboring countries.

Some envoys from neighboring countries came to pay tribute. On the surface, they were smiling, carrying generous gifts, and speaking words of congratulations. In fact, they had ulterior motives, wanting to explore the true strength of the Heavenly Palace, spy on the real strength of the Great Yu Dynasty, and even want to steal the secrets of the Heavenly Palace...

...

...

Xu Qing stood on the high platform of Tiangongyuan, with an upright posture, gazing deeply at the Heavenly Palace on the top of Zhongshan Mountain, his heart full of emotion.

He knew very well that the birth of Tiangong was just the beginning and the road ahead would be long and difficult, filled with countless challenges and unknowns.

In order to enable the Heavenly Palace to have a strong attack capability as soon as possible, he immediately summoned a group of core figures including Tianling Shangren and Gu Laodao to discuss the subsequent improvement plan of the Heavenly Palace.

"Two seniors, although this Heavenly Palace can now float steadily and absorb the royal energy, its attack power is still too weak. It still has a long way to go before it can become an indestructible magic weapon. Do you have any ideas?"

Master Tian Ling stroked his beard, narrowed his eyes slightly, and said after thinking for a moment: "We can try to integrate more sophisticated mechanical techniques and the powerful power of practitioners into the Heavenly Palace. For example, we can carve complex defensive runes on the outer wall of the Heavenly Palace... At the same time, we can also set up a variety of attack mechanisms inside the Heavenly Palace, such as cannons, fireball ejection nozzles, etc...."

Gu Laodao nodded in agreement: "Yes, in addition, finding special materials to improve the quality of the Heavenly Palace is also crucial. I heard that in the far north, there is a kind of ore called Hanjingyu, which is extremely hard..."

Xu Qing nodded slightly: "You two are right. I'll trouble you to arrange this matter as soon as possible. I will allocate some manpower to assist you in finding the cold crystal jade and ensure that the perfect plan of the Heavenly Palace goes smoothly."

As for the follow-up of the Tiangong Project, Xu Qing still confidently handed it over to Master Tianling and Taoist Gu. After all, professional matters should always be left to professionals.

The old emperor was very pleased with the appearance of the Heavenly Palace, and specially held a grand banquet for it. There was singing and dancing, and the tables were filled with delicious wine and food.

The old emperor was in a good mood. At the banquet, he rewarded his ministers with elixirs that could cure all diseases.

At first, the ministers were skeptical. After all, a medicine that could cure all diseases sounded too magical.

However, when they went back and tried, they were surprised to find that the long-standing illnesses had actually improved significantly. The originally weak bodies of some old ministers were completely refreshed, as if they had regained vitality.

It must be said that the old emperor's move was really brilliant, and it directly won the hearts of the ministers. After all, for those in power, disease is often the biggest enemy. It not only weakens the body's functions, but also may affect the stability of power. The old emperor's elixir undoubtedly gave the ministers a reassurance.

Then, another rumor came out that the old emperor had actually concocted an elixir that could prolong life.

This news was like a huge rock thrown into a calm lake, causing huge splashes in the hearts of the ministers.

With the birth of the Heavenly Palace, the ministers' awe of the old emperor deepened a lot. They felt that the old emperor's power was immeasurable, as if he was a god standing in the clouds, controlling their destiny.

But the old emperor never had any intention of interfering in government affairs. He seemed more willing to watch how everything developed behind the scenes.

He even trusted Xu Qing more than before and gave him great power. Except for his lack of title, Xu Qing was almost the executive vice emperor of the Great Yu Dynasty. Most of the affairs in the court were handled by him.

There were even rumors in the officialdom that being slightly disrespectful to His Majesty would not be a big deal, after all, the old emperor did not seem to care about these minor details. But if Xu Liushou and Guanjun Hou were offended, then the problem would be very serious!
In short, all the civil and military officials of the Dayu Dynasty who had done something wrong were more afraid of Xu Qing than respecting him. They knew that Xu Qing's methods and abilities were enough to ruin their reputation in the officialdom.

On the contrary, the clerks who had just entered the government office had more respect for Xu Qing than fear. They had just entered the officialdom and had not yet been tainted by too many officialdom vices. Seeing Xu Qing seeking benefits for the lower-level officials and doing practical things for the people, they were full of admiration. This was also a strange polarization. Xu Qing's influence was greater among the lower-level officials, while the middle and upper levels were more afraid of Xu Qing's power than his virtue.

Xu Qing knew that this was human nature.

For middle and upper-level officials, whether he is there or not, they can gain huge benefits by relying on their status and connections.

However, under Xu Qing's leadership, those low-level officials were able to get a bigger share of the pie than before at their level and truly change their own destiny, so they were full of gratitude and respect for Xu Qing.

If we use Journey to the West as an analogy, the old emperor symbolizes the almighty Jade Emperor, who controls the highest power in heaven and is extremely majestic.

Xu Qing is like Laozi, possessing extraordinary wisdom and powerful strength, silently pushing the development of the situation behind the scenes.

Xiong Chan is more like Western Buddhism and Taoism. He has his own power and beliefs and occupies an important position in the power structure of the Dayu Dynasty.

As for the Two Saints of Dayu, they are like the top fighters of Heaven. They are highly powerful and are the pillar of strength in maintaining the rule of Dayu Dynasty.

In short, the power structure of the Dayu Dynasty is now extremely stable, with various forces checking and balancing each other and relying on each other.

For example, Xiong Chan and Xu Qing had a very good personal relationship and he never offended Xu Qing, but he was obviously closer to the old emperor.

Moreover, the monk was very "aware of the current situation". In order to show his loyalty, he wrote the Tao Te Ching in his own blood. The old emperor was moved by this sincerity.

A martial saint who betrayed his faith in order to show his loyalty, this kind of determination and courage is amazing. In the future, when the Heavenly Palace matures, the position of the Western Buddha will be something that the monk will have to take!

However, Xu Qing did not feel overly afraid of this.

In any case, before the external pressure is completely removed, Xu Qing and the old emperor are absolutely steadfast allies. If they work together, both will benefit; if they separate, both will suffer.

It is impossible for him to rebel when the old emperor is at the peak of his power, and it is impossible for the old emperor to do anything to Xu Qing now.

Skilled chess players often make moves with profound meaning in mind, and do not care about the gains and losses of the immediate move. They are all silently planning for the future of the Dayu Dynasty and for their own goals.

However, just as the power structure within the Dayu Dynasty was gradually stabilizing and the Tiangong Plan was progressing steadily, the war in the southwest against Heshan Road came to an end.

With the joint efforts of the imperial army and the chieftains, the army has approached the main altar in Heshan Road.

This is deep in the Shiwan Mountains, with undulating hills, dense forests and extremely complex terrain.

The operation of grain routes was extremely difficult. The mountain roads were rugged and narrow. The teams transporting supplies often encountered various difficulties such as landslides and attacks by wild beasts. The supply of food and materials was often interrupted.

The main temple of Heshan Dao was meticulously planned and heavily guarded, with all sorts of traps and mechanisms all around it, and powerful magic arrays guarding it. In addition, there were numerous poisonous snakes, insects, and ants lurking about, making it impossible to attack.

Even a martial arts master like Lin Tianwang tried to take action but failed several times.

If the Heshan Dao headquarters cannot be defeated, with the strong foundation of Heshan Dao, it will soon be able to recover in southern Xinjiang and once again instigate the Miao people and other natives to resist the imperial court to the end.

To be honest, managing the southwest has been the most troublesome issue for every dynasty.

Firstly, it was a huge drain on the finances of the Middle-earth Dynasty. The food, weapons, military expenses, etc. needed for the war were like a bottomless pit, constantly devouring the country's wealth.

Secondly, the returns are extremely low. The terrain in the southwest is complex and the land is barren. Even if it is conquered, it is difficult to achieve high output and it is difficult to make up for the consumption of the war.

However, instability in the southwest will affect Bashu. Turmoil in Bashu will inevitably involve many provinces, triggering a chain reaction and endangering the rule of the entire Dayu Dynasty.

In short, no matter how hard or difficult it is, we must seize this opportunity to win the war in the southwest in one fell swoop.

Xu Qing knew that the war was urgent. After explaining the pros and cons to the old emperor, he went to the front line in person.

"The main altar of Heshan Dao has many magic arrays, and there are many strange beasts, poisonous snakes, and poisonous insects. These strange beasts are extremely powerful and ferocious, and the poisonous snakes and poisonous insects are even more difficult to guard against. In fact, the magic arrays are not the most terrifying. The key is these poisonous snakes and poisonous insects, which are too harmful to ordinary soldiers. They are extremely poisonous. Once bitten, the mildest ones will be poisoned and comatose, and the worst ones will lose their lives. If it weren't for the powerful talisman water of the Taoist doctor accompanying the army, I'm afraid that at least half of our army would have collapsed by now."

Xu Qing's brother-in-law, Governor Zhou, also known as Lord Zhou, now recounted the many difficulties of this battle with a heavy face.

One percent is not a small number, and one percent means that far more than one percent of soldiers and civilians are sick. Many soldiers are highly nervous and morale is low because they are afraid of being bitten by poisonous snakes and insects.

Therefore, even with Xu Qing's arrival, the morale of the army was still not boosted much.

This battle was too tiring and hard to fight! It can be said that many dynasties in the Central Plains were dragged down by the war in the southwest. In Xu Qing's opinion, this battle must not repeat the same mistake.

Now the military camp is full of sulfur and many talisman papers, which are used to defend against poisonous snakes and insects. The pungent smell of sulfur permeates the air, making people's eyes hurt. The talisman papers are covered with mysterious runes, emitting a faint light.

But Heshan Dao is an expert in driving poisonous snakes and insects. The poisonous insects and snakes they secretly make seem to have spirituality, and many of them can still sneak into military camps.

Although the number of infiltrators each time was small and the destructive power was limited, it was enough to keep ordinary soldiers awake at night and tremble with fear. Every night, the soldiers dared not sleep soundly, always alert to the attacks of poisonous snakes and insects.

After Xu Qing understood these specific issues, he went to find the old patriarch of the Shuixi An family.

The head of the An family now knew how terrifying Xu Liushou was, so he did not dare to shirk his responsibility and hurried over to pay his respects.

Xu Qing looked serious, staring at the head of the An family: "Old An, I know you are knowledgeable. What is the key to Heshan Dao driving poisonous snakes, insects and ants? Please tell me the truth."

The head of the An family looked up and saw Xu Qing's meaningful smile. He was startled and did not dare to hide it. "That is a kind of melody that human ears cannot hear. They use special musical instruments or skills to produce this melody to control poisonous snakes, insects and ants."

"Is there any way to crack it?" Xu Qing asked.

The head of the An family laughed bitterly and shook his head helplessly: "The southern barbarian land has always been in constant conflict. How can an old man like me know how to break the secrets that have enabled the Heshan Dao to survive for a thousand years? Mr. Zhuangyuan, you are asking the wrong person."

Xu Qing frowned slightly: "Are there any other clues?"

The head of the An family pondered for a while, and said carefully: "When Prime Minister Zhuge was pacifying Nanzhong, he also encountered a similar problem, and it is said that he solved it with the sound of the zither."

Xu Qing nodded slowly, thinking secretly in his heart. That was the Weiyang Qin, one of the six treasures of the Zhuge family. It was said that this Qin had a unique sound quality and contained mysterious power.

Now the Weiyang Sword is in Xu Qing's hands, but the Weiyang Qin is said to have fallen into the hands of the Sima family, and later disappeared in the chaos of war. It is undoubtedly like looking for a needle in a haystack to find Zhuge's Weiyang Qin.

Xu Qing thought of his wife Feng Wu. Feng Wu was gifted in the art of playing the zither and had a high level of understanding of music since she was a child. Perhaps she could find a way.

Xu Qing first used the Heavenly Demon Art to collect the rhythm of Heshan Dao's poisonous insects. He circulated the primordial magic energy in his body, extending his perception to the extreme, capturing the subtle fluctuations of the rhythm.

Then, he used the method of the devil entering the dream to discuss with Feng Wu in the dream how to crack this rhythm.

(End of this chapter)