"But how did he, a mere mortal, know of this?"

The two men exchanged a glance. Ye Jiuya said, "It was Senior Chi."

Chen Weichen also recalled her earlier words to "wait and see how things develop". He sighed. "Since she has made a move to disrupt the dynasty's mandate, we can only obediently watch - it's fortunate that what she wants to do is the same as us. Otherwise, who could outmaneuver that old witch?"

The emperor looked at the churning sea of blood with Lord Xie at its center, greatly alarmed. His voice trembled, "State... State Preceptor..."

Chen Weichen nudged Xing Qiu with his elbow. "Don't interfere."

The State Preceptor glanced at the noticeably darkened sky outside. "Indeed, I don't have that ability anyway."

He leisurely rose and went before the emperor's seat. "Your Majesty, this is the will of heaven."

The Emperor's face turned deathly pale: "The will of Heaven -- what should we do?"

As soon as he finished speaking, a flash of white light and a thunderous boom from outside shook everyone to the core.

The chilling, fierce wind slammed open the windows with a bang, and nearly a hundred sheets of paper used for writing poems on the tables were swept up, flying all over the great hall like handfuls of paper money scattered at a funeral.

"The only plan now is for Your Majesty to pretend to accept the remonstration, reform the new laws, and issue a self-reproach edict. This humble official will take the opportunity to manifest heavenly auspices to demonstrate Your Majesty's sincerity. With the will of Heaven clearly shown, we can use this chance to perform the Feng Shan sacrifices to reassure the people," Xing Qiu spoke with great solemnity.

The Emperor nodded repeatedly like grasping a life-saving straw: "The State Preceptor's insight is profound."

Below, Lord Xie suddenly opened his eyes wide, gazing at the emperor seated above.

Perhaps the ancient rites for worshipping Heaven and Earth made his hearing and sight acute at this moment, able to hear the whispers there. The look in his eyes went from grief and indignation to sorrow, from sorrow to indifference, and finally to hopelessness.

The great hall was dazzlingly opulent, extravagant to an unbearable degree. The guards were in a chaotic mess, some closing doors, some shutting windows. The scholars reached out to catch their papers blown away by the wind. The officials each shrank their necks in the cold gale.

The young Daoist in gray robes, holding a feather duster, said: "Now even I can see that the fate here is exhausted."

Chen Weichen sighed and looked at the officials below. Most of them hung their heads and tucked their tails, but there were also those staring fixedly at Lord Xie with reddened eyes. He searched among the scholars again and saw Zhuang Baihan's body trembling slightly, his fists clenched, letting the pages fly away before him.

The eunuch supported the Emperor step by step down from the high platform. Standing at the edge of the pool of blood, the Emperor forced a strained smile: "Lord Xie's insights benefit the country and people. My lord, please rise--"

Lord Xie suddenly began laughing softly, his laughter growing louder and louder.

"If I had known this day would come, I would rather have died in the flames of war!"

His entire body was soaked with blood, his voice resounding like metal and stone.

"Today, with only a ravaged body left, I am willing to sacrifice myself for Heaven and Earth, to dispel the evil miasma and uphold justice!"

Chen Weichen remembered when he was in the demon realm, Ye Jiuya said the third ancient training of the Sword Pavilion was "where the utmost sincerity lies, even metal and stone can be split open."

He saw the air above the great hall surging and roiling, whipping up shocking waves. That Lord Xie, with the body of a mere mortal, invoked the true qi of Heaven and Earth. Amidst the gathering storm, purple and golden clouds billowed, vaguely forming the shape of a dragon.

Who knows what method Chi Juntian used to make contact with Lord Xie and let him learn of such an ancient sacrificial rite passed down from antiquity. However, if this man did not truly have a heart of great righteousness, willing to sacrifice himself for the suffering of the human realm, it would have been impossible no matter what.

It seems there is evidence for the saying that all ways return to one - with utmost sincerity, metal and stone can indeed be split open.

It's just, it's just--

Ye Jiuya gazed at the purple and golden clouds outside the window that only they could see: "It is recorded in the Heavenly Book that in the primordial times, there were only various states and no imperial dynasties yet. Every three years, each state would use a thousand people as sacrifices to secure their destiny."

"In that case, can Lord Xie's self-sacrifice secure the destiny of the imperial dynasty?"

Ye Jiuya shook his head: "If in his heart he thinks of loyalty to the monarch, naturally he can secure the destiny of the imperial dynasty. If in his heart he thinks of the common people, the destiny will go towards benefiting the common people."

That day, at the Peach Blossom Banquet, Xie Yan remonstrated to the death, his blood splattering the white jade steps, triggering strange phenomena in Heaven and Earth. The public had various opinions, with the notion that "the destiny of the Southern Dynasty is nearing its end and Heavenly punishment has descended" being the most prevalent. The Emperor flew into a rage and executed dozens of people.

The next day, the Emperor issued a self-reproach edict, granting amnesty to the world and bestowing favor on the imperial examinations. The very day the edict was issued, an auspicious giant purple bird circled above the imperial palace, only leaving at dusk. The State Preceptor advised that His Majesty had been temporarily deluded and implemented improper policies, failing in sagely clarity, and fortunately Lord Xie remonstrated to the death. Now that it has been corrected, Heaven and Earth are moved, and the phoenix has appeared, a sign of great fortune.

The Emperor was overjoyed and by imperial decree selected an auspicious day to perform the Feng Shan sacrifices to thank Heaven and Earth.

With a small purple bird perched on his shoulder, Xing Qiu breezily entered the gate of the Chen manor.

Ye Jiuya was practicing swordsmanship in the courtyard. Seeing Xing Qiu, he gave a slight nod as a greeting and continued his practice.

His swordplay was sharp and his sword qi chilling. Even amidst the beautiful spring scenery, it was like the northern wind sweeping snow, an icy river breaking its flow, making observers shudder in their souls. Xing Qiu watched with interest for a while, feeling a bit of fear when Ye Jiuya unleashed his sword, and quietly slipped away into the study.

Chen Weichen was reading Buddhist scriptures. Seeing him enter, he raised an eyebrow: "The State Preceptor brings the phoenix here, how interesting."

Xing Qiu placed the "phoenix" on a shelf to the side and sat down next to Chen Weichen. With one glance, he saw the Buddhist scriptures in his hands and wrinkled his nose in disgust: "Reeks of bald donkey, burn it, burn it."

Chen Weichen looked at him helplessly: "What are you here for?"

Xing Qiu stretched lazily and leaned against his shoulder limply: "Nothing to do."

Chen Weichen pushed at him but couldn't budge him. He thought back to when they first met, His Majesty the Demon Emperor was quite imposing. Who would have thought he seems to have no bones - if there's a tree he leans on the tree, if there's a wall he leans on the wall. Being waited on by beautiful consorts and lounging in luxury was one thing, but his insistence on leaning on Chen Weichen whenever they met was another.

"What kind of quirk is this?" he asked.

Xing Qiu said lazily: "I've lived all these years, cultivating this and that, but haven't cultivated any real meaning. I just feel it's very dull being alone."

Chen Weichen then slapped the Buddhist scriptures on his face: "Then go find your monk."

Xing Qiu took down the scriptures, read a few lines, and sighed: "The monk has gone off to become a Buddha, I won't go asking for trouble."

As they were fooling around, a servant boy came and said: "Young master, I've found the information."

Chen Weichen pushed the mischievous Demon Emperor aside and said: "Speak."

"I asked the maidservants of the Xie household and learned that Lord Xie has been frequently going to Luozi Lake in the outskirts recently."

"Luozi Lake?"

"It's in the south, past two mountains."

"Lead the way." The young master Chen glanced at Xing Qiu who was frowning as he read the Buddhist scriptures: "We're going to find someone, will you come with us?"

Xing Qiu nodded: "Alright."