Journey to the West: Treasure Vase of the Great Dao-Chapter 501 - 273: The Fallen Country

The middle-aged man nodded upon hearing this and said, "A king dies for his state; on this point, he is stronger than those spineless ones. Tell me, does he have any last words?"

The Old Eunuch's eyes reddened as he spoke loudly, "His Majesty decreed that all the sins of the world lie with me alone, and that the common people should not be harmed."

Having said that, he drew his sword and killed himself, his blood spurting like a fountain and staining the grand hall red.

Everyone was stunned by the Old Eunuch's resolute act, and the middle-aged man looked down at the body of the Old Eunuch and Lu Yuan's severed head beside it, his face flashing with complex emotions. He was no longer the simple village rebel from the beginning, having gone through so much, he had gained enough insight.

Thus, as he faced Lu Yuan's head, he no longer harbored the same hatred as when he first revolted, because he knew that this king was merely a scapegoat, and the true reason for his miserable life lay with the Noble Families and Clans entrenched in various places.

"He was indeed a loyal and brave officer. Bury him with the Emperor's corpse," the middle-aged man said softly.

He walked slowly into the grand hall and sat upon the gold-forged Dragon Throne under the eager gazes of his subordinates, his eyes looking into the distance, flickering with a cold glint.

As the rest of the subordinates went down to start their revelry, a middle-aged man dressed in a black long coat, with sunken cheeks and prominent cheekbones, approached him with a slight smile and said, "How does it feel to sit in this position?"

"Not so great. Lao Han, why don't you come up and try sitting here," said the middle-aged man expressionlessly.

Lao Han shook his head slightly and said, "This is not an easy seat to occupy, especially now."

"Yes, those below are jubilant, but only we know that it's exactly what those people outside have been waiting for," said the middle-aged man with a cold smirk.

"Hmph, those Noble Families and Clans are afraid of staining their names with regicide. Each watches from the sidelines, and now that the Emperor is dead, they will probably hasten to attack us under the pretense of loyally serving the king," Lao Han also said with a sneer.

"They certainly do have a shrewd plan, doing the dirty work themselves, and letting us bear the infamy, not realizing it is these very people, who shout loyalty and patriotism, that have brought the world to this state."

"Alas, it's a pity that the Great Ancestor did not go far enough, allowing these clannish families to revive from their ashes, and thus dooming Great Chu."

"Hmph! It's because they were not ruthless enough. These fellows should have been crushed thoroughly, trampled into the dirt to make them cease," said the middle-aged man, his eyes filled with deep-seated, bone-deep hatred.

The two men conversed softly in the grand hall, while outside was a wave of noise. The middle-aged man had promised the army that after breaching the city, they could plunder for three days. Now, these men, their eyes stained red from war and slaughter, began their revelry. The once prosperous capital instantly turned into a living Hell on earth, as countless tragedies and murders unfolded on this once most sacred land.

Deep within the Imperial Palace, a young man with a pale face entered a secret chamber containing a small temple, which, instead of housing any Divine Statue, had only an Ebony Plaque standing at the very center.

The young man approached the wooden plaque slowly, knelt in deep respect, and said, "Lu Xun of Great Chu seeks an audience with the National Guardian Spirit!"

The slightly youthful voice echoed in the empty temple, and immediately the Ebony Plaque shimmered with a golden light, and a Divine General suddenly appeared at the top of the great hall, adorned with fluttering cyan ribbons.

"You are Lu Xun, and I am already aware of what you seek, and will grant it as you wish," the Divine Spirit's authoritative voice echoed in the boy's ears.

Although the boy had often heard tales of gods and spirits, and even knew that his own family descended from Immortals, this was his first actual encounter with a true Divine Spirit. Witnessing this majestic and holy presence, he couldn't help but be astonished, and hope also ignited within him.

The boy quickly kowtowed to the Divine Spirit, his voice echoing within the Temple, and soon his forehead was spotted with blood.

"I implore the Divine Spirit to lend Great Chu a helping hand, and my Lu Family will worship you for generations," the boy pleaded with hopeful eyes to the powerful Divine Spirit.

Unexpectedly, the Divine Spirit shook his head slightly and said, "I cannot restore Great Chu for you; it must depend on yourself."

Disappointment flashed across the boy's face, but then the Divine Spirit spoke again: "The Fortune and Destiny of Great Chu is suppressed by the spirit of my family's Great Ancestor. Although not as vast as Kyushu, it is supposed to enjoy a reign of 900 years by reason. Do you know why it perished at 800?"

The boy was stunned on the spot. He had never heard such a claim before. The concept of national Fortune and Destiny had always seemed elusive, and he had never believed in it. However, facing such a majestic and holy Divine Spirit now, he couldn't help but believe.

Read latest chapters at freёweɓnovel.com Only.

Thus, he spoke, "I kindly ask the honored Divine to enlighten me."

"This was the intent of your Lu Family's Great Ancestor. Nine hundred years were fixed. If you wish to extend the Fortune and Destiny, you must undertake a special task, to break it down and then rebuild, only then can the Fortune and Destiny be prolonged."

The boy, bemused, asked, "What do you mean?"

"Your ancestor has left the choice in your hands. If you can bear this responsibility, we will pave the way for you. If you are unwilling, then let Great Chu end completely!"

The boy stood there as if dazed, the words of the Divine Spirit swirling in his mind like a storm. The Divine Spirit was not in a hurry, standing by and waiting for the boy to make a decision. Such a burden was too heavy for one of his age. However, how difficult indeed it was to revive a former nation, and without such determination and courage, how could one shoulder it?

After a long while, the boy regained his composure, looked at the solemnly majestic Divine Spirit, and said with a grave yet firm expression, "I am willing!"

A faint smile appeared on the face of the Divine Spirit, who said, "That is like a descendant of the Lu family. Come here, I have something to tell you."

The boy moved closer, and the Divine Spirit whispered, his eyes growing brighter until the Divine Spirit finished speaking, and he solemnly nodded.

"Good, it's time for you to go. The journey ahead will certainly be full of hardships. I hope you can stay true to your heart and live up to the wish of today." After saying this, the Divine Spirit gently waved his hand, a portal of light appeared behind the table, and the boy looked once more at the small Temple. It was as if through this place he could see the Imperial Palace where he had grown up. He dashed through the portal, ready to face his destiny.

Meanwhile, the middle-aged man in the hall had received a report from his subordinate: "Leader, the entire Imperial Palace has been searched, but the trace of the former dynasty's Crown Prince has not been found."

The middle-aged man waved his hand slightly, signaling the man to leave, then let out a soft sigh and said, "I should have expected this. Since he was so willing to embrace death, his son must have been well arranged."

"But fortunately, the Imperial Jade Seal is still here, as well as the legendary Sword of the Son of Heaven. As for such a young child, he is actually of little importance, those people will not acknowledge him as real, they will only support their own puppets," Old Han said with a smile, as this had been anticipated.