My Wife Is The Leader Of A Demonic Cult-Chapter 347 - The Imperial Jade Seal Conceals a
Chapter 347: Chapter 347: The Imperial Jade Seal Conceals a Secret
Chapter 347: Chapter 347: The Imperial Jade Seal Conceals a Secret
Jin Deng looked at the young man before him, whose extreme self-confidence seemed to surge outward.
An Jing was a confident man.
Perhaps even the most confident man in the world.
Over the past two years, countless Grandmasters had fallen under his sword, forging an unparalleled confidence in his heart.
A single sword slash brings thunderstorms, and beneath An Jing’s blade, all are mere ants.
That was his reputation in the Jianghu, clearly demonstrating his current standing which could be likened to the North Star among mountains.
His status was in no way inferior to Xiao Qianqiu’s, and might even surpass it.
Moreover, he was only just over twenty years old, a rarity in the annals of history, no, truly a unique existence.
So, he ought to be a confident man.
He was meant to be a confident man.
An Jing’s life had been smooth except for encounters with Jiang Shang and Xiao Qianqiu, but this time he faced a different enemy. The undying Qianqiu was absolutely one of the most terrifying people in the world.
Specializing in killing great Grandmasters, how fearsome was that?
Thinking of this, Jin Deng couldn’t help but remind him, “Although the undying Qianqiu is injured, his strength should not be underestimated.”
An Jing took out the Imperial Jade Seal from his chest, the eight big characters etched on it clearly visible to Jin Deng.
Everlasting Prosperity, Mandated by Heaven.
This was truly a national treasure, regarded as the seat of the world’s fate.
Although the Dulu Sword was known as the world’s first sword, forged with countless efforts by the Great Qin Dynasty, it still paled in comparison to the Imperial Jade Seal before him.
An Jing said indifferently, “Then let him come.”
His voice was very calm, as if he was discussing an utterly trivial matter.
Jin Deng also felt the overwhelming pressure emanating from the Imperial Jade Seal, causing his heart to tremble slightly and his breath to become uneven.
The Imperial Jade Seal was the legitimacy of the orthodox emperors in Chinese history. Since the Great Qin, every dynasty’s emperor considered this seal a prized treasure, a vital instrument of the state.
To possess it symbolized “Mandated by Heaven”, to lose it meant that “one’s allotted time has run out”. Those who ascended to high ranks without this seal were scorned as “mock emperors”, considered lacking in foundation and despised by the world.
Through the ages, those who aspired to the emperor’s throne fought bitterly for it, causing the Imperial Seal to change hands frequently. After circulating for over two thousand years, it disappeared without a trace, lamented by many.
Now, it had ended up in An Jing’s hands, who could even mobilize a million ghost soldiers with it, forcing even top Grandmasters to retreat in terror. What a fearsome existence was he?
An Jing put away the Imperial Jade Seal, and the intense pressure gradually dissipated. “Where is the undying Qianqiu now? Elder Jin ought to be aware, right?”
Jin Deng, having investigated the undying Qianqiu so thoroughly, should know his whereabouts.
Jin Deng pondered for a moment before replying, “This man has been healing at the Black Ice Platform all along and recently went to Yujing City where he severely injured Zhao Zhiwu. He should have returned to the Cloud Tower by now, but it’s not ruled out that he has come to Houjin.”
An Jing nodded slightly and said, “Good, thank you, Elder Jin, for clearing my doubts.”
“It’s unnecessary, merely be extremely cautious and don’t fall for others’ schemes.”
Jin Deng poured another cup of tea, smelling the faint fragrance, then muttered softly, “Ever since a wisp of consciousness from the Earth Vein Spirit escaped, there have been subtle changes occurring in the world. I feel that a crisis is on the verge of emerging.”
Evil spirits emerged along with nature’s spiritual energy. Though currently in small amounts, over the months, they had unknowingly seeped into human bodies. Those of high power might still resist it, but what about those with lower strength?
What if they were affected by the evil spirits?
Jin Deng finished the tea in his cup and then said, “I am leaving now. If one day you change your mind, you can always find Su Lian and Su Yue.”
After finishing, he headed toward the window and walked away.
His form flickered briefly, ghost-like, and in a blink, he had vanished.
An Jing watched Jin Deng’s departing figure, then took out the Imperial Jade Seal again.
“The Imperial Jade Seal, a vital instrument of the nation, suppressing the world’s fate, yet now it seems to absorb the ghost soldiers into it; it’s clearly not as simple as it seems. Perhaps, I need some time to thoroughly study this exotic treasure.”
“However, for now, enhancing my own strength is of utmost importance.”
Not long after Jin Deng had left, Qiu Lun burst in hurriedly, his face filled with excitement, “Big brother, when are we attacking the Houjin Royal Court?”
By now, who didn’t know that An Jing possessed the Imperial Jade Seal, with a million ghost soldiers ready at his command? The entire world knew that Houjin was in great trouble.
Everyone was waiting for An Jing’s million ghost soldiers to charge into the Houjin Royal Court, completely changing the current situation of the world.
Qiu Lun was naturally impatient.
An Jing said calmly, “You spread a message behind that in three days, I will step into the Houjin Royal Court. Let the people of Houjin prepare—either open the gates and surrender, and I’ll only kill Zongzheng Huachun, or die alongside him.”
Zongzheng Huachun now assisted by the Earth Vein Spirit’s intentions and added to his own strength, would have stepped into the Great Grandmaster realm if not for the True Dragon Essence Blood he obtained. He couldn’t give him more time, and must quickly resolve this chaos by killing him before he reaches the Great Grandmaster realm.
“Good.”
A glint flashed in Qiu Lun’s eyes as he enigmatically said, “Breaking into the Houjin Royal Court, my older brother has indeed made his mark in history.”
As the son of the Pingyang Marquis, he naturally understood the current atmosphere in the royal court. It appeared that something unusual had happened to Zhao Zhiwu, the Great Yan Emperor, which could be described as a disaster for the current Great Yan.
At this point, the National Seal in An Jing’s hands and Zhao Qingmei’s identity carried an unspoken significance.
Though Qiu Lun had a rugged and obese appearance, his mind was full of schemes, naturally considering the pros and cons involved.
The winds of Great Yan now lay in the hands of this Demon Sect couple.
An Jing patted Qiu Lun on the shoulder and said, “Go, get ready.”
“I understand.”
Qiu Lun nodded and turned to leave.
Watching Qiu Lun’s departing figure, An Jing muttered softly, “Advancing to the Five Qi realm is not simple, and I must now prepare for breaking through to the Five Qi.”
The realm of Five Qi, without being unsealed by the Dragon Locking Well and Earth Vein Spirit, stands at the pinnacle of the world, with masters of the Five Qi Grandmaster level still being among the top experts even today.
Currently, only Zhao Zhiwu and Xi Hafu had reached the Great Grandmaster realm.
If An Jing advanced to the Five Qi realm, aside from Great Grandmasters, there would be no one else in the world that can rival him.
With that thought, An Jing also turned back to his quarters, then sat down on his bed cross-legged.
A flick of his palm and several streams of Heaven and Earth Spirit Essence landed within his hand.
Taiyin Kui and Jiang Shang are both Five Qi Grandmasters; they contributed ten streams of Heaven and Earth Spirit Essence, and several other Dharma Kings from the Great Snow Mountain also perished at the hands of An Jing, all adding up to more than ten streams of Heaven and Earth Spirit Essence.
“Willpower returning to its place is the most difficult among the Five Qi; once the will aligns, it’s the return to the Five Qi origin, and the inner Qi Mechanism would enhance several fold. If I could reach the Five Qi Grandmaster realm, storming into the Houjin Royal Court would increase my chances significantly.”
An Jing took a deep breath, knowing Zongzheng Huachun would certainly have contingencies, so he had to continually enhance his own capabilities.
Ever since the True Dragon Essence Blood merged into his body, An Jing’s cultivation had shown some looseness.
Although he knew advancing to Five Qi would be difficult, and perhaps just a groundwork for the next attempt, An Jing still had to give it a try.
In that instant, he absorbed the Heaven and Earth Spirit Essence into his body.
A tremendous surge of True Qi crazily rushed to every corner of An Jing’s body, pouring into his meridians, causing the already cracked meridians to crack even wider.
This True Qi was immense but so pure that it surprised people; its level of purity no longer required any refinement from An Jing. For some reason, this True Qi posed no resistance to An Jing; it moved almost as if under his direct command.
The massive True Qi moved along the pathways of the Longevity Formulas, and after a complete cycle, it rushed into the Qi Sea like a sudden burst of flood, roaring thunderously as it poured in nonstop.
Then, An Jing experienced that earth-shaking feeling inside him once again.
Feeling the changes within, An Jing knew that even if he couldn’t reach Five Qi this time, his cultivation would rise again.
Immersing his mind, An Jing carefully manipulated the True Qi, not daring to be careless in the slightest.
Time passed slowly, and it seemed that the Qi within his body gradually began to calm down.
Just as An Jing was about to cease his cultivation, he suddenly discovered an intense suction force that spontaneously burst forth from within his Qi Sea, and with the eruption of this suction force, streams of extremely powerful True Qi once again surged from the outside into his body.
Due to the absorption of the Heaven and Earth Spirit Essence, and the continuous operation of the “Nameless Heart Scripture”, while the surrounding air was still emitting strands of True Qi, as soon as the suction force erupted, streams of powerful True Qi followed through the pores of the skin into his body.
Eventually, beyond An Jing’s control, they directly charged into his meridians, circulating a cycle before rudely rushing into his Qi Sea.
An Jing frowned instantaneously, absorbing all the Heaven and Earth Spirit Essence into his Qi Sea.
“I want to see how much you can absorb.”
Achieving Five Qi Returning to Origin is a process of accumulation, and ordinary Four Qi Grandmasters would need years or even decades, which An Jing didn’t have.
In the next moment, the vigorous True Qi continued charging into An Jing’s body, and as the “Nameless Heart Scripture” operated again, his body started to go more berserk.
Streams of pure True Qi continuously rushed from An Jing’s abdomen to all around his body, moving along the broad meridians, endlessly rushing toward An Jing’s Qi Sea.
The Qi Sea seemed even more violent now, the True Qi within it boiling up, and with those fierce collisions, it began to convert into a rain of True Qi.
Seated cross-legged on the bed, An Jing was like a massive black hole, voraciously devouring everything around him. In just a few moments, the True Qi within several meters around him had been extracted three times.
As time ticked by, the True Qi inside his body kept surging, and An Jing, seemingly tireless, continued to operate the “Nameless Heart Scripture.”
The Qi Sea was like erupting magma, bursting out streams of True Qi rain, sprinkling inside his body, but those True Qi rains eventually became somewhat diluted, almost as if truly like rainwater.
“It’s a pity.”
Feeling the situation inside his body, An Jing sensed that if he had a year to accumulate, he could possibly have reached Five Qi Returning to Origin this time, but without that year, those dozens of streams of Heaven and Earth Spirit Essence absorbed became his foundation.
The vigorous True Qi seemed to gradually start thinning out, the original fluxing mystic portals closing again, and that surging aura slowly disappearing.
This feeling was strange; it seemed the threshold to becoming a Five Qi Grandmaster was right in front of him, as if a mere touch to a thin membrane would shatter it, perhaps he would break through tomorrow, or perhaps during the journey to the Houjin Royal Court.
It had been a long while before An Jing slowly opened his eyes, his black pupils gleaming with a stirring brightness.
“Advancing to become a Five Qi Grandmaster is not so simple, though.”
Just then, a detached voice sounded.
“Predecessor Nangong.”
An Jing stepped out of the door, where a pale-faced old woman stood; it was Nangong Weiping.
At that moment, she was dressed in a wide robe, yet both of her sleeves were empty.
Nangong Weiping said, “The Five Qi Returning to Origin is not merely a rise through a single Qi Mechanism, but the conjoint meeting at the peak of five Qi Mechanisms at the same time. It’s an epiphany about the human body.”
“The stronger your strength and the shorter your cultivation time, the harder it is to reach the Five Qi Returning to Origin.”
“I have learned, senior.”
An Jing nodded slightly, then asked, “Predecessor, do you think I would stand a chance against Xi Hafu if I reached the Five Qi Realm?”
Nangong Weiping glanced at An Jing and scoffed, “This Xi Hafu is not weaker than the Buddha in life; he’s not just any Great Grandmaster. Do you know the difference between a Grandmaster and a Great Grandmaster? Even if you reach the Five Qi Realm, an ordinary Great Grandmaster would give you enough trouble, let alone the top-tier Great Grandmasters.”
An Jing’s eyebrows slightly raised, and he said no more.
He was naturally aware of the difference between Grandmaster and Great Grandmaster—the conversion of True Qi to True Yuan was a qualitative transformation.
Especially since he had witnessed Nangong Weiping’s fight with Xi Hafu, he understood the gap even better.
However, reaching the Five Qi Grandmaster realm might be possible in a short time, but reaching Great Grandmaster was nearly impossible.
Nangong Weiping continued, “The Imperial Jade Seal you hold in your hand is not so simple. If you can wield it, even a Great Grandmaster would hold you in awe.”
An Jing nodded, “I understand.”
The Imperial Jade Seal was the strongest card he held at the moment and was enough to deter a Great Grandmaster, especially because the seal seemed to harbor some secret.
But was there any connection between the Imperial Jade Seal and Fengdu?
If he could find the connection, perhaps he could fully unleash the power of the Imperial Jade Seal.
…….
The news that the Ghost Swordsman vowed to break into the Houjin Royal Court spread rapidly, shaking the world tremendously.
Originally, with the three countries attacking Yan, the Great Yan Dynasty was on the brink of dusk; even many believed the dynasty would be swallowed by Houjin, Zhao Country, and the Southern Barbarians. However, who could have anticipated that the situation would turn around so suddenly?
First, the Great Yan State Preceptor Xiao Qianqiu killed ten Great Wizards of the Southern Barbarians, shocking the world, and then the Ghost Swordsman, wielding the national treasure Imperial Jade Seal, was about to kill his way into the Houjin Royal Court.
Now, the Houjin Royal Court had indeed become the most dangerous place in the world. With millions of ghostly soldiers targeting it, even though they hadn’t yet made their move, the people of Houjin were already terrified to their core.
Just when the eyes of the world were fixed on the impending battle at Houjin Royal Court, another disturbance broke out on Beihuang Dao.
Jin Lv led three hundred thousand Houjin troops to attack You Mountain, planning to conquer the Demon Sect Main Hall and advance into the Capital Road, aiming straight for the capital of Great Yan, Yujing City.
Zhao Qingmei stood in black on the summit of You Mountain, her gaze stretching far into the distance, as her heroic eyes flickered with disdain and dominance.
Her clothes fluttered noisily in the swirling mists.
Yu Qiurong bowed her head, her expression humble.
No one could command such respect from Yu Qiurong. The respect she felt was from the depths of her heart; not even An Jing could compare, only the Zhao Qingmei before her.
“Whoosh! Whoosh!”
At that moment, a black figure rushed from afar at high speed.
The person was none other than Yi Daoyun from White Tiger Sect, his hands holding a bloody head, whose expression was extremely fierce, still showing a trace of horror in his eyes.
Clearly, he had not believed what was happening before his death.
This was the Mu Xin Great Dharma King who had slain Wang Shiyi and boasted arrogantly.
Yi Daoyun bowed and said, “Sect Hierarch, Mu Xin is dead.”
Zhao Qingmei asked, “What about Jin Lv and his army?”
Yi Daoyun replied, “They have reached the You Mountain Gorge. Jin Lv has vanished; he’s probably hiding among the central army, worried about our sect’s masters assassinating him.”
Yu Qiurong sneered, “To think Jin Lv would turn out to be such a coward.”
“After today, he will no longer have to fear anything.”
Zhao Qingmei gazed into the distant mountains and said quietly, “Jin Lv will die here in You Mountain, and not just him; the thirty thousand Houjin troops will also be buried here.”
Yi Daoyun and Yu Qiurong exchanged a glance, each feeling a chill in their hearts.
Although they had long known that Zhao Qingmei aimed to target the Houjin army, they hadn’t expected that Zhao Qingmei actually planned to annihilate all three hundred thousand Houjin soldiers right there in You Mountain.
Having suffered significant losses in several major battles before, the Houjin leading six hundred thousand soldiers southward had already depleted the nation’s strength. They had faced significant losses along the way, especially during the battles at Yuan City and with Wang Shiyi.
These three hundred thousand soldiers were Houjin’s last main force; if all were to perish, then Houjin would be utterly finished.
……
Inside You Mountain, the Houjin army had rested for several days before hastily setting off.
The immense army moved swiftly, with the ground rumbling loudly beneath them; the pressing mass looked endless. As long as they could take down the Demon Sect Main Hall, they could march directly to Capital Road of Great Yan.
Jin Lv was hidden among the Houjin army, his brow deeply furrowed.
If Zongzheng Huachun hadn’t sent him urgent orders, he would have preferred to investigate further, rest, and then depart.
His heart harbored a bad premonition, given the hurried departure.
Just then, a messenger soldier hurried over, “Great Commander, bad news! The Mu Xin Dharma King has been killed by a Demon Sect expert.”
“Dead?”
Jin Lv’s frown deepened upon hearing this.
As for the death of Mu Xin Great Dharma King, he wasn’t too surprised; Mu Xin often acted recklessly and never took the Demon Sect experts seriously. It was normal for the Demon Sect to dispatch experts to kill him.
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While Jin Lv pondered on these things, there was a noisy disturbance ahead.
Suddenly, a small mountain range seemed to move, causing countless rocks to roll down and smash into the Houjin army. Amid the onslaught of falling stones, many soldiers were overturned, and numerous Houjin soldiers died tragically.
The next moment, a terrifying scene occurred as that small mountain range transformed into a giant beast. Its massive paws crushed down fiercely, instantly grinding several soldiers into minced meat. Seeing this, the surrounding Houjin soldiers were terrified, their souls scattering and hearts shattering.
“What kind of monster is this!?”
“Run!”
“What’s happening!?”
…..
All Houjin soldiers, like headless flies, frantically fled toward the distance.
Just then, a clear call came from the sky. Shortly afterward, a massive bird emerged, spewing flames that turned the entire valley into a fiery inferno.
Jin Lv exclaimed in shock, “Is that a mechanical beast?”
He, of course, knew about the Great Qin’s mechanical beasts, but since the downfall of the Great Qin Dynasty, the method of constructing these puppet mechanism beasts had long been lost. Who could have expected to encounter puppet mechanism beasts here?
Could it be a random discovery of the Great Qin’s puppet mechanism beasts?
Jin Lv took a deep breath and ordered, “Send the command: don’t worry; it’s just a puppet mechanism beast.”
However, several deputy generals behind him swallowed nervously, speaking softly, “Great Commander, it seems there’s not just one…”
“My God!”
“What on earth is this thing!?”
……
All Houjin soldiers were stunned as they looked up at the fierce giant beast, all seeming to lose their minds.
Boom! Boom!
The ground began to tremble, stones flying all around, and soon several more giants seemed to awaken from a deep slumber, rushing towards the Houjin soldiers.
Then, several medium-sized mechanical beasts burst in from among them. Although the mechanical beast army was not vast, the impact they created instantly wreaked havoc on the formations of the Houjin army.
With the Honghu above constantly spitting fire, the chaos became even more severe.
The number of soldiers who died from the puppet mechanism beasts and the flames was significantly less compared to those trampled and lost in the disorder.
Jin Lv was equally terrified, not expecting the Demon Sect to possess a considerable number of puppet mechanism beasts. He quickly ordered, “Retreat, quick retreat!”
At that moment, a deputy general rushed over, “Great Commander, numerous Jianghu experts and Black Armored Army are attacking from behind; there are tens of thousands, including Demon Sect Earth Sect experts, Azure Dragon Sect, White Tiger Sect, and other Great Yan Martial World sect experts. Additionally, there’s also about ten thousand of the Black Armored Army left over from Dongluo Pass…”
“What!?”
Jin Lv now realized they had entered into a trap set by the Demon Sect, like a bolt from the blue.
Meanwhile, the chaotic You Mountain became a living hell for the Houjin soldiers.
……..
