Shen Zhao and Mu Qiuyao passed through One-Line Sky and returned safely to the Northern Domain continent.
"We're finally back! I didn't expect you to be right, kid. The exit to the Buddhist Realm really was deep within the clouds of One-Line Sky."
"Too bad, it's only for exiting, not entering. If we want to go to the Buddhist Realm again, we'll have to find another boundary."
"How did you figure out the exit was in One-Line Sky?"
"Didn't you notice the Buddha statue at the exit was different?"
"Different how?"
"Why would the Bodhisattva be sitting backward, sighing that the masses are unwilling to turn back? They say that to turn back is to reach the other shore. From the very beginning, One-Line Sky was the starting point and the endpoint."
"Wait, something's wrong."
Not long after leaving One-Line Sky, the two were still basking in the joy of surviving against all odds when they saw the sounds of battle emanating from the outskirts of a small town ahead. Various cultivators were locked in combat, and the scene was one of utter devastation, with blood flowing like a river.
Dark clouds filled the sky, and a gloomy atmosphere blanketed the entire town.
On the ground, the sounds of cultivators fighting mixed with the clatter of armor, creating a chaotic and brutal battlefield.
Blood and corpses lay scattered everywhere, forming a shocking river of blood, as if telling the story of the battle's cruelty and intensity.
From a distance, the cultivators' faces were filled with greed and ruthlessness.
"What exactly happened?"
Mu Qiuyao looked at the scene before her with disbelief.
The Northern Domain's three thousand states were dominated by the Profound Heaven Immortal Dynasty, which controlled six and a half tenths of them. The rest were vassal states that had to pay tribute to the Immortal Dynasty every year.
In other words, the Profound Heaven Immortal Dynasty held absolute power in the Northern Domain.
Since Mu Qiuyao took control of the Imperial Seal and established the Immortal Dynasty, the Northern Domain hadn't seen war for many years. The only time they prepared for battle was when Shen Zhao's Po Jun Manor from his previous life posed a threat.
Shen Zhao was also somewhat surprised by this and couldn't help but ask, "Was the Northern Domain like this in my previous life?"
Mu Qiuyao shook her head. "Impossible. Since I've held the Imperial Seal, the states of the Northern Domain have been under the Immortal Dynasty's rule for a thousand years. Such a ridiculous thing never happened in my previous life, not even until my death."
Shen Zhao said, "Then let's find someone to ask and see what exactly happened."
"Mhm!"
Mu Qiuyao responded and was about to find someone to ask when a Soul Sea Realm cultivator flying in the air stopped them.
"Who are you? What are you doing here!"
Mu Qiuyao frowned: "And who are you?"
"I am Zhang Wufang, a disciple of the Supreme Sect. I don't know if you are friend or foe, fellow Daoist?"
Mu Qiuyao didn't want to reveal her identity, so she said, "We just entered the world not long ago, and we don't know what exactly happened here. We hope fellow Daoist can enlighten us."
Zhang Wufang frowned: "So you're not friendly forces. I advise you to mind your own business. You can't get involved in the cause and effect here. Leave quickly." After speaking, he turned and raised his sword, charging towards the battlefield.
Shen Zhao hurriedly called out to Zhang Wufang: "Fellow Daoist, wait a moment. What exactly happened in the Northern Domain? Why did it become like this?"
Zhang Wufang was stunned: "You really don't know about such a big thing?"
Shen Zhao: "We were cultivating in a dense forest. We only came out to the Northern Domain recently to visit relatives and friends, but we didn't expect it to be like this. We hope fellow Daoist can give us a reason."
Zhang Wufang said, "The three major families of the Northern Domain have joined forces with the Heavenly Severing Holy Land, the Heavenly Dao Sect, and the Mystic Peak, along with various other sects, vowing to overthrow the tyrannical rule of the Profound Heaven Immortal Dynasty!"
Mu Qiuyao's expression changed in alarm. "Impossible! These sects are all directly affiliated with the Profound Heaven Immortal Dynasty. Why would they rebel against the Immortal Dynasty?"
Zhang Wufang frowned. "Why rebel? Huh, it seems you don't know how cruel the Empress is, Mu Qiuyao.
We, the third-rate sects, were simply late in paying our spirit stone tribute, and she directly ordered the extermination of our entire clans.
Moreover, she has monopolized all the resources of the Northern Domain, leaving no place for rogue cultivators. Do you think a ruler like that shouldn't be overthrown?"
Mu Qiuyao said, "In the path of cultivation, the strong prey on the weak. If your strength is lacking, you should strive to improve yourself, not incite war and bring disaster to innocent people."
Zhang Wufang was enraged. "What are you talking about? What does this mean? Could it be that you are also a lackey of the Empress?"
Mu Qiuyao sneered. "You are acting so brazenly. Aren't you afraid of the Empress coming in person?"
"Hahaha…" Zhang Wufang laughed upon hearing this, "It seems you truly know nothing.
The Empress, Mu Qiuyao, perished in the Heavenly Severing Holy Land two months ago. Otherwise, where would the various sects of the Northern Domain get the courage to oppose the Immortal Dynasty?"
Mu Qiuyao's expression darkened: "You're saying the Profound Heaven Empress is dead? Who spread this rumor?"
"Ning Ruoxue, the Heavenly Severing Holy Land's sect master, said it herself. Countless fellow cultivators witnessed the Empress and that Shen Zhao perish together, not even their corpses remained. How could this be a lie?"
"Ning Ruoxue?"
Mu Qiuyao found it hard to believe that the one spreading the news of her death was actually her beloved disciple, whom she had nurtured for hundreds of years.
"Considering your ignorance, I'll give you a piece of advice: join the anti-Immortal Dynasty alliance, overthrow the Empress's remaining forces, and re-establish the Northern Domain's immortal laws. Once the Northern Domain is pacified, you can also share in the spoils. I'll say no more, farewell!"
After speaking, Zhang Wufang took to the air, turning to rejoin the battlefield.
"Empress, it seems you have a lot of unfinished business to handle. I won't disturb you any further. I'll take my leave now."
Shen Zhao didn't want to get involved in the conflicts between dynasties. He'd experienced similar situations countless times in his nine lives, and just wanted to get away from this mess.
"Boy! I need your help!"
Without a second thought, Mu Qiuyao directly spoke to Shen Zhao.
"You want me to help you quell this unrest?"
"You are the God of War of the Immortal Martial Continent. I need your strength to help me fight my way back to the Biyun Palace."
Shen Zhao shrugged, indicating his refusal: "That was in my previous life. I have no interest in being a god of war or anything like that. I believe that the moment you appear in the main hall, all the unrest will vanish."
Mu Qiuyao shook her head: "My current strength is only at the seventh rank of the Supreme Realm. The Northern Domain is filled with experts. Without your help, I have no confidence in turning the situation around. Consider this me begging you, I'll owe you a favor."
Shen Zhao pondered for a moment: "I don't mind helping you. After all, we're not strangers. But I must be clear, I won't take the initiative to act unless absolutely necessary."
Mu Qiuyao nodded.
"What's your next move?"
"I need to understand the current situation of the Immortal Dynasty first, then decide what to do. Let's leave here and find a place untouched by the war to discuss the details."
"Alright."
Inside Yan Zhou City, there was a scene of desolation and gloom, with displaced people begging along the way.
Looking at the scene before her, Mu Qiuyao was in a state of turmoil.
"These are all the people of the Immortal Dynasty, the foundation of my rule."
Now, they were caught up in this unwarranted turmoil, suffering the ravages of war.
With a long sigh, he followed Shen Zhao into a tavern.
There were very few guests in the tavern. Only a blind old man was playing the pipa, and the waiter beside him leaned listlessly against the counter.
Seeing that guests had entered, the waiter quickly perked up and greeted them, "Two guests, what would you like to order?"
Shen Zhao picked up a pair of chopsticks from a bamboo tube and said, "Just bring some dishes and wine."
"Alright!"
The waiter quickly went to the kitchen and, in a short while, brought a plate of simple fare, a pot of coarse wine, and placed them on the table.
Shen Zhao didn't say another word and immediately started eating.
Mu Qiuyao, however, had no interest in eating at all. At her level of cultivation, she barely needed to consume any grains. Moreover, the food she ate in the palace was all spirit beast meat and spirit wine; she wouldn't deign to eat these coarse meals.
"Aren't you eating?"
"Do you think I have any appetite?"
"Food is the staff of life. If you don't eat, you'll get hungry. Since it's already happened, we should figure out how to solve it, not just sulk here."
The blind man who had been playing the pipa immediately nodded upon hearing this. "This young brother speaks the truth. Since it's already happened, worrying is useless. It's better to think about how to solve it."
Shen Zhao said, "This old man is quite carefree. Why don't you come over and have a drink of this rough wine with me?"
"In that case, this old man won't refuse."
The blind man put away his pipa, leaned on a wooden stick, and stumbled over to Shen Zhao's table.
After he sat down, Shen Zhao poured him a cup of wine and asked, "Old man, are you a local?"
"This old man has traveled all over the Northern Domain. In the past fifty years, I've walked through no less than forty or fifty states. What would the young friend like to ask this old man?"
"Old man, we just passed through the Northern Domain from outside. But why has the Northern Domain become what it is today?"
"Sigh~"
The blind man sighed, then raised his cup and drank it down.
"Young friend, you don't know. The changes in the Northern Domain today are all because of the former Empress. Otherwise, there wouldn't have been such a big change."
Mu Qiuyao couldn't help but ask, "What exactly did the Empress do wrong?"
The blind man said, "Although the Empress possesses heaven-defying cultivation, she is cold, ruthless, and lacks compassion. Though the court outwardly obeys, it is out of fear of her power, not genuine submission.
In the beginning of her Immortal Dynasty, there were commendable aspects. For instance, she reduced taxes, initiated water conservancy projects, and appointed capable individuals. Every action showed she knew how to cherish the nation's strength, care for the people, and benefit the land.
During those few hundred years, the various states of the Northern Domain truly believed they had welcomed a rare, unprecedented wise ruler.
But as time passed, everything changed. The court was no longer filled with talented civil officials and Confucian scholars. They were replaced by cultivators who only understood cultivation.
The criteria for entering officialdom shifted from assessing political achievements to evaluating progress in cultivation. Sigh..."
Mu Qiuyao retorted, "The Empress brought all the cultivators in the world into the Immortal Dynasty, expanding its internal strength. What's wrong with that?"
Unexpectedly, Shen Zhao sneered upon hearing this, "This action can indeed expand the Immortal Dynasty's strength, but it will inevitably fill the court with intrigue and a foul atmosphere.
Ninety-nine percent of cultivators have selfish motives. Their ultimate goal is nothing more than longevity and improving their cultivation realm. How can they possibly work wholeheartedly for the court?
"Moreover, cultivators generally have long lifespans. If they encounter a wise official, they can benefit the people, but if they encounter a treacherous official, it will inevitably be a misfortune for the nation."
In her previous life, Yu Xiyan had also wanted to transform the Yin Tian Imperial Dynasty into the Yin Tian Immortal Dynasty, recruiting all cultivators in the world to serve. However, Shen Zhao had strictly opposed this idea. His goal was to prevent the cutthroat rules of the cultivation world from ruining the hard-won clarity of the imperial dynasty.
Because of this, Yu Xiyan found herself increasingly displeased.
The blind man agreed deeply: "What the young brother says coincides with my thoughts. Cultivators occupy the court but know nothing about worldly affairs. Applying the rules of the cultivation world to the people will only bring endless suffering."
Mu Qiuyao's expression turned somewhat grim upon hearing this.
She was truly unwilling to accept that the immortal dynasty she had founded would be so disparaged in the eyes of the common people.
But she heard the blind man continue, "Since the immortal dynasty's reform, all sorts of exorbitant taxes and levies have sprung up everywhere in the Northern Domain, leading to countless instances of people selling their children.
Even the cultivation sects have begun fighting amongst themselves to gain a foothold in the Northern Domain."
Once a minor sect declined or was destroyed, it cut off the last possible path for those commoners who wanted to enter officialdom through their cultivation status but had mediocre talent.
Do you think an Immortal Dynasty like this is still worthy of the people's love? Moreover, the Empress is cruel, capricious, and only trusts her own people. The court is already filled with corruption.
Otherwise, how could such a huge wave be stirred up just based on the Heavenly Severing Holy Land's one-sided words?"
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(End of Chapter)