Chapter 356: Chapter 360: True Spirit_1
The journey back was a bit dull. Qin Wudao and Li Yuanba didn’t talk much, and they only took a brief rest at White City along the way.
Qin Wudao met with Zhang Jiao and Sima Yi. He clearly stated that after some time, he would send pills for advancing to the Emperor Level, telling them to develop peacefully. He also informed them that the continent would soon fall into turmoil and they should act cautiously.
After a night of rest, Qin Wudao and Li Yuanba left the Middle Region, traveling day and night, and finally returned to the Imperial Capital.
Zhuge Liang, who had received news in advance, led the officials to welcome them. Seeing only two people return, everyone turned pale. Had something happened?
"Your Majesty, where are Prime Minister Guo and the others?" Zhuge Liang stepped forward and asked, his face etched with worry.
"Yuan Tiangang, did you know beforehand about the dangers of this mission?" Qin Wudao, ignoring Zhuge Liang, walked up to Yuan Tiangang and questioned him with a grim expression.
Guo Jia was exceptionally talented in governance but not proficient in divination; he couldn’t have foreseen the trouble. In the Qin Dynasty Saint’s Court, the only person with this ability was Yuan Tiangang.
"Your Majesty, I acted for the good of the Qin Dynasty Saint’s Court. Besides, Prime Minister Guo still has a glimmer of hope for survival!" Yuan Tiangang replied, bowing in salute.
As Guo Jia’s colleague, he certainly would not plot against him; he was incapable of such a despicable act.
"What glimmer of hope?" Qin Wudao was startled and asked excitedly.
"Your Majesty, the hope lies in your Imperial Study!" Yuan Tiangang offered a slight smile and bowed again.
Getting the hint, Qin Wudao seemed to recall something, his eyes brightening. He turned to the officials and said, "I need to visit the Imperial Study first. If you have any questions, you can ask Li Yuanba!"
With that, he hurried off to the Imperial Study.
The officials bowed respectfully, then surrounded Li Yuanba, inquiring about what had happened during the journey.
Upon entering the Imperial Study, Qin Wudao found the Investiture of the Gods on the imperial desk and opened it. It recorded all the enfeoffed court officials, shimmering with a brilliant golden light.
However, among the numerous names, only one was dim: that of Deputy Prime Minister Guo Jia!
There’s still a trace of True Spirit in the Investiture of the Gods!
Qin Wudao sensed it and was overjoyed. The True Spirit is the origin of all living beings and dissipates into the world when the physical body perishes. The fact that the Investiture of the Gods preserved a trace of True Spirit meant the prerequisite for resurrection was met.
But how to resurrect him?
Four large characters materialized in Qin Wudao’s mind, along with instructions on how to use the Investiture of the Gods: "Fortune Forms the Body!"
The method was actually quite simple: place the Investiture of the Gods in the Sea of Fortune. By absorbing a massive amount of Fortune, it would strengthen the True Spirit and then reconstruct the body.
"Go!"
With a thought from Qin Wudao, the Golden Dragon of Fortune, which resided in the Sea of Fortune, descended. It opened its mouth, took hold of the Investiture of the Gods, and flew into the Sea of Fortune.
Countless strands of golden Fortune flowed into the Investiture of the Gods, absorbed by Guo Jia’s True Spirit.
It will take half a year to resurrect him!
Qin Wudao sensed this and couldn’t help but smile. The sorrow in his heart vanished, replaced by a glint in his eyes as he emanated a terrifying imperial might.
Furthermore, this pressure was even more intense than before.
Guo Jia’s death was a blow to him, but it was also an inspiration. The path of the Qin Dynasty’s growth had been too smooth. None of his officials, whether civil or military, had ever been sacrificed.
Therefore, he had never known the pain of losing a capable minister!
Only by experiencing pain can one grow and see things differently.
"Eternal Temple, I will remember you!" Qin Wudao said coldly, his eyes filled with a monstrous killing intent that caused the temperature in the empty Imperial Study to plummet, making the atmosphere eerie and terrifying.
After a long while, Qin Wudao finally calmed his emotions and muttered to himself, "System, summon Li Jing and Sun Simiao!"
BOOM! BOOM!
Two vortexes appeared in the void within the hall. The one on the left was wreathed in murderous aura, a general’s star shining brightly within. The one on the right was filled with the scent of herbs, emanating a refined, otherworldly presence.
Two figures stepped out. One man was armored and held a helmet; the other, dressed in a grey robe, had a medicine chest slung over his shoulder.
"Greetings, Your Majesty!" both men saluted respectfully.
"Please rise." Qin Wudao lifted his hand, a gentle force helping them to their feet. He then commanded loudly, "Issue an order: Appoint Li Jing as Third Rank Great General and task him with forming the Xuanjia Army!"
"Issue an order: Appoint Sun Simiao as Third Rank Attendant and Deputy Director of the Imperial Medical Bureau..."
The powerful voice spread from the Imperial Study, echoing over the Imperial Capital. The citizens were momentarily surprised but soon calmed down.
They had grown accustomed to it. Every so often, unfamiliar ministers would appear in the Qin Dynasty, assume important positions in the court, and display extraordinary abilities.
「The Nine Layer World!」
Numerous patriarchs from the holy lands gathered, their expressions grim. Terrifying auras emanated from them, causing the Void to tremble.
The fury of a Great Emperor changes the heavens!
Above them, dark clouds amassed, lightning flashed, and thunder rumbled—an incredibly intimidating scene.
"Now that everyone is here, let’s begin our discussion!" Dongfang, the founder of the Nine Layer Saint’s Court, who possessed the cultivation of a peak Original Source Great Emperor, surveyed the assembly and said solemnly, "As of now, the Eternal Temple has abducted four of the top ten Divine Bodies!"
"We don’t yet know what they are plotting, but we can be certain it is detrimental to us!"
"To protect the prodigies who haven’t been captured and to rescue those who have, I have decided: we will attack the Eternal Temple!"
In this era of immortal opportunities, the Eternal Temple’s schemes regarding the Primitive Secret Realm and their abduction of prodigies had touched the reverse scales of many holy lands.
Prodigies are the future of the holy lands! They absolutely cannot be lost!
"There’s no need for a rescue. News came yesterday—Sikong Lian’s Soul Jade has shattered!" the Patriarch of the Heretic God Sect, Great Emperor Dry Bones, stated flatly, a hint of sorrow in his murderous gaze.
The Wufa Buddha Ancestor of Thunder Sound Temple, the All-Demon Old Ancestor of Demon Saint Temple, and several other powerful figures from sects that had lost prodigies remained silent, but the murderous intent emanating from them grew ever thicker.
Dongfang was taken aback, unsure how to respond. Should he offer condolences? Or mock them?
The relationships between the major holy lands were not, in fact, amicable; they clashed frequently. However, this was certainly not an occasion for mockery, yet he didn’t wish to offer condolences either, so he moved past the topic.
"The Eternal Temple has over thirty strongholds in the Middle Region and the four border territories. Each stronghold is garrisoned by Emperor Level Martial Artists. Their main tasks are to capture individuals with special physiques and gather intelligence. If we eliminate them, it will significantly weaken the Eternal Temple’s strength..." Dongfang said with a grave expression.
The Nine Layer Saint’s Court’s intelligence on the Eternal Temple was quite comprehensive, gathered over several eras.
The assembled patriarchs listened intently, nodding frequently. They too had gathered intelligence on the Eternal Temple, though not as much as the Nine Layer Saint’s Court.
"Gentlemen, this is all I know. Does anyone have anything to add?" Dongfang asked after he finished speaking.