Ze Tian Ji

Edited by: Michyrr

Earlier, Xu Yourong had wondered aloud whether Wang Zhice had gone senile.

At the time, her words had triggered an uproar both within and without the Mausoleum of Books. Even the southern cultivators who followed her were rather dissatisfied.

She made this comment again, but she was greeted this time by silence.

The situation had undergone a massive transformation. Everyone could hear that her comment now was just helping out Chen Changsheng.

After Chen Changsheng appeared, Wang Zhice had not spoken with him, but decided to chat with Zhusha.

’Long time no see’ contained far too many meanings.

In terms of attitude, it was as lofty as Mount Han.

In terms of psychological attack, it was utterly untraceable.

Anyone would find it very difficult to cope with this move.

Chen Changsheng had chosen to cut it off at the source.

He stood in front of the girl in black and told Wang Zhice that this was not her name.

She could be called Hongzhuang, could be called Zhizhi, or could even be called that dragon name which would require several thousand syllables when transliterated into human language.

In short, she was not called Zhusha.

Even if she had once gone by that name.

That was then, and this was now.

She was not under New North Bridge, but by his side.

Silence reigned inside and outside the Mausoleum of Books.

Xu Yourong’s discourtesy toward Wang Zhice was not too much in conflict with the impression she had left on the common people ten-some years ago.

But Chen Changsheng’s unflinching stance toward Wang Zhice had caught many people by surprise.

Why?

In Mount Han, Chen Changsheng had seen Wang Zhice walk on clouds. It was like he had seen a cultivator of the starry sky for the first time.

Just like the vast majority of people in the world, he also regarded Wang Zhice as an idol.

Today, Wang Zhice was standing across from him and Xu Yourong, but his respect for this legend had still not lessened.

Until Wang Zhice had said those words.

The little Black Dragon began to feel fear.

As he saw her pale face and Wang Zhice’s faint smile, Chen Changsheng suddenly felt angry.

He found it impossible to pinpoint what exactly this emotion was, but it made him feel angry.

In an extremely short amount of time, much of the respect in his heart had vanished, and his mind had cooled.

As for Xu Yourong, it could be seen from her attitude to Wang Zhice that she respected nothing other than the Great Dao.

Just like that, the pressure created from Wang Zhice’s single comment had been stopped by two statements from Chen Changsheng and Xu Yourong.

Wang Zhice faintly smiled and prepared to say something more.

But Chen Changsheng was looking elsewhere.

The words Wang Zhice had wanted to say were not able to leave his mouth.

His expression became more focused.

Chen Changsheng was not looking at his master, but at Xu Yourong.

By just quietly gazing at each other, they were able to understand what the other was thinking.

Their hearts had always been naturally linked, like a rainbow connecting two lands.

The swords also struck out like a rainbow.

On Holy Maiden Peak, their swords combined in harmony had once given birth to a rainbow.

Chen Changsheng said, "I know that you went to the Hundred Herb Garden. I also went."

Xu Yourong said, "When I was little, Empress once taught me that one had to calm their mind before a great undertaking. I only want to calm myself."

Chen Changsheng said, "I don’t want to become like my master, and I also don’t want you to become like the Empress."

At these words, Wang Zhice and the disciples of South Stream Temple looked toward Shang Xingzhou within the sword array.

Shang Xingzhou was looking up at the overcast sky with an indifferent expression. It was impossible to tell what he was thinking, but he was clearly paying no attention to anyone else.

Xu Yourong replied, "Perhaps you did not consider that I want to become like the Empress."

Chen Changsheng looked at her and sincerely returned, "No, because I know that you don’t like that sort of life."

He knew that she liked to look over cliffs, enjoy the snow, listen to the rain, pick herbs, and read.

Xu Yourong smiled and sighed, "I know that you also don’t delight in this sort of life."

She knew that as a child, he had grown accustomed to watching the temple, sweeping the snow, sheltering from the rain, eating medicine, and reading.

As for intrigue, deception, callous slaughter, cold-blooded threats...

Neither of them liked to engage in these things, but in the current situation, they were forced to.

And they understood each other too deeply, knew that they didn’t like to do such things, so they wanted to do it themselves.

Xu Yourong had struck first and Chen Changsheng had struck after.

One sword struck east and one sword west.

They had no desire to strike with their swords, but they had the heart.

They had not intentionally worked together, but in the end, they had ended up walking together.

Only a true harmony of swords could give rise to this silent understanding, and make their actions seem so wondrous that the heavens seemed to have planned it.

Xu Yourong had held Shang Xingzhou in the Mausoleum of Books and drawn the attention of the princes.

Chen Changsheng had brought the strength of the Li Palace to sweep through the world like a flood.

The final result was perfect.

The Orthodoxy’s conservative faction had been purged and the capital was completely under control. A decree from the palace would be all it took for Shang Xingzhou to truly lose.

Xu Yourong did not need to become the second Tianhai Divine Empress and Chen Changsheng did not need to go against his heart and slaughter the four directions.

...If Wang Zhice had not appeared.

Chen Changsheng turned to Wang Zhice and said, "I had always hoped that I would not see Sir here."

Wang Zhice replied, "I had also hoped that I would not see you here."

Chen Changsheng asked, "I am the Pope, so there’s no reason for me not to appear, but what of Sir?"

Wang Zhice answered, "For the sake of all living beings of the world, I had to come."

Chen Changsheng believed in these words.

He had met the Tang Old Master in Wenshui City and knew that this was how these elders truly thought.

The elders of Taizong’s era were all true idealists. For their goal, their righteous cause, for all living beings of the world, these people could sacrifice so much, like the little Black Dragon, or reputation, or the lives of countless people, and perhaps even more important things.

Chen Changsheng really wanted to say that it was wrong to do this, but he knew that such words would be meaningless.

He said to Wang Zhice, "It seems that we at least agree on one thing: the living beings of the world are the most important."

Wang Zhice agreed, "Yes, even though they are not aware of this."

Chen Changsheng noted, "So that all living beings will not suffer the fires of war, will not endure the bitterness of being adrift and homeless, Sir was willing to cross vast distances to persuade us to yield."

Wang Zhice replied, "Correct."

Chen Changsheng asked, "Then why can it not be your side that yields?"

This was a very good question.

Shang Xingzhou looked up at the distant sky, an ambiguous smile on his face.

Wang Zhice fell into deep thought.

If one said that leading the Human race forward required a valiant will and daring, as well as an outstanding ability to execute...

Then Xu Yourong’s and Chen Changsheng’s deeds today had proved that they were outstanding leaders.

Shang Xingzhou had conceded this point, so Wang Zhice also had to concede it.

The current danger arose from the stalemate between the two sides.

The slightest lack of caution would result in three months of continuous war, and the good ending for the Human race would be utterly annihilated.

Those princes and the experts of the Imperial Court all entered the Mausoleum of Books.

The experts of the southern sects walked out from the forest.

Wang Po had also come. He hugged his blade as he stood in the distance.

Several determined or angry voices could be heard.

Chen Changsheng did not earnestly listen, but some words still made their way into his ears.

’There is already no retreat. Retreat is death.’

This prompted another question from Chen Changsheng.

In the coming months and years, this question would become extremely famous.

"If the living beings of the world are truly this important, then why can’t any of you die for them?"

His expression was incredibly solemn, his eyes as bright and clean as a mirror.

He was not mocking these elders, nor was he angrily criticizing them. He truly did not understand.

Wang Zhice looked into his eyes and suddenly realized that he could not answer this question.