Chapter 535 271: Shockwaves

"You...!"

Song Que's words caused Song Yu's expression to stiffen.

How dare Song Que lecture him on this reasoning?

Everyone knows that in the past, the Great Zhou sought to appease the Northern Lands not because of weakness in conquest, but to reduce casualties. After all, if they forcefully subdued all disloyal subjects, uprooting those deeply entrenched Noble Families and the Three Sects' Lineage, there would be fierce resistance to the end.

Though the Great Zhou was strong at the time, the Huo-Wei Pseudo-dynasty was not to be easily slaughtered. If the Northern Lands united to resist stubbornly, not only would the Great Zhou pay a heavy price, but the Northern Lands would also suffer devastation from the warfare, leading to the tragic situation of ten rooms with nine vacant.

Thus, the Great Zhou's appeasement strategy was indeed a benevolent government policy.

But...

"Hmph!"

Song Yu sneered coldly, "What compassion from the Deities? It's just fear of losing Divine Power, unwilling to let the common people suffer too much, hindering his development and ruining his grand plan. You fools, you think it's compassion when in reality you're fish on a cutting board, being raised like cattle and sheep, unaware of your impending slaughter!"

By this point, his words were nothing but stubborn resistance.

He must be strong!

At this juncture, he has no retreat, only a desperate fight remains.

Thus, if he let the opposite side claim the moral high ground in the name of compassion, would the morale of his Imperial Guard remain?

Therefore, even if it's through sheer stubbornness, he must persevere!

Song Que did not rebut him, only asked one final question: "Are you truly determined to carry this mistake to the end?"

"Hmph!!"

Song Yu snorted coldly, not responding, but ordering those around him: "Come, draft an edict. I wish to announce to the world, revealing the true face of that Evil God, cutting off his depraved sacrifices, and cleansing the heavens and earth!"

His words were resolute.

At this stage, he has no retreat, only a desperate fight remains. Following King of Zhaoren's advice, he issues an edict to suppress the Deity, hoping to reverse the situation.

This is the only hope!

He has understood why Song Que betrayed him, and the origin of these Yellow Turban Daoist Soldiers.

All are orchestrated by the Deity!

Song Que's rebellion needs no further elaboration; King of Zhaoren had long informed him that the Deity has deceitful and extraordinary means, capable of subduing Dragon Qi. Li Mubai was the best example from those days, the Hidden Dragon Qi taken as said, the Imperial throne surrendered as promised.

Being the Southern Dragon Zhou Lord at the time, Li Mubai had no power, and clearly Song Que was easily controlled by the Evil God's methods.

As for these Yellow Turban Daoist Soldiers, unsurprisingly, they should originate from the Divine Martial Southern Army!

The faith in this God is deep-rooted beyond all imagination.

Among the Divine Martial Southern Army, many are his followers. Just grant them Divine Power, and they can become Dharma-Protector Divine Soldiers.

As for how he subtly linked these believers into an army, working with Li Feng, Song Que, and others, it seems clearly the Deity's method, delivering orders through dreams, ensuring cooperation.

Everything done by the King of Zhaoren, this Deity naturally can do, even better, leading to a spontaneous emergence of Dharma-Protector Divine Soldiers within the Northern Capital.

But success through Divine Soldiers, failure also through Divine Soldiers!

All it takes is to break through the Deity's methods, these Dharma-Protector Divine Soldiers will surely fall from grace.

By then, the True Dragon Emperor will personally lead the Imperial Guards inside the palace, coordinating with the Divine Martial North Camp army outside for a pincer attack, surely reversing the situation.

Therefore, the urgent task is to write the sacred edict and strive to propagate it, even if unable to leave the palace, to let the Imperial Guards under his command and the opposite Dharma-Protector Divine Soldiers know the Evil God is finished, the sacrifice ceased.

Thus...

"Stubborn ignorance!"

Song Que shook his head, then stood aside.

Not only him, but the entire group of Yellow Turban Daoist Soldiers also stepped aside, leaving a wide central pathway.

"Hmm!?"

Song Yu's eyes narrowed, yet to speculate, he hears a great rumbling.

"Boom boom boom!"

Steam spewing, machinery roaring, the earth trembles.

A steel beast slowly enters the palace, its fierce muzzle pointing directly at the Yangxin Hall.

"..."

"..."

"..."

The scene fell into dead silence, followed by shock.

"What is this!?"

Song Yu cried out in astonishment, a horrified expression on his face, involuntarily retreating, not daring to face that fierce muzzle.

"This is the Science Institute's latest development, the Thunderbolt Car!"

Song Que looked at him, his words calm: "Capable of launching Thunderbolt Cannons, even Fourth Realm Martial Artists can't withstand its thunderbolts!"

Song Yu's pupils contracted with shock: "Such a formidable weapon, why did I not know?"

"Your desire for power blinds you, how could you clearly see the world's affairs?"

Song Que shook his head, offering one last persuasion: "Surrender, and you can still retain dignity!"

"Fight our way out, destroy that Evil Spirit contraption!"

Before the words finished, Song Yu roared, several Celestial Destiny Star Generals with Fourth Realm Cultivation leading the charge, directly attacking the Thunderbolt Car.

However...

"Boom!!!"

A deafening explosion, dust and smoke rising, soaring into the sky.

...

In such a manner, several days later.

The Capital City's upheaval shook the world.

Rumors spread incessantly throughout the Northern Lands.

"Did you hear?"

"The Northern Capital crumbled?"

"What do you mean crumbled?"

"The sitting Emperor, committed murder, exposed by Minister of the Ministry of Justice Li Feng, leading to a rebellion within the Divine Martial Army, where Grand General Song Que turned against him, leading the army to capture the Emperor, intending to bring him to justice!"

"What?"

"How could it be!"

"The Emperor is Supreme, what reason is there for him to face the law?"

"Clearly, it is Li Feng colluding with Song Que to stage a coup, assassinate the Emperor, and seize the kingdom!"

"Murder and killing, who have they killed, whose life have they taken?"

"I heard it was a maid from the palace..."

Inside a certain tavern, everyone was discussing passionately, with many Confucian scholars slamming the table.

"Absolutely ridiculous!"

"The Emperor conspiring against a maid?"

"How can such absurdity exist in the world?"

"It's not just the Emperor, Wang An and Wang Shi, the two pillars of the state, as well as loyal and righteous men like Lord Yuann and Lord Zheng have been plotted against by that bandit Li, their whole families imprisoned, trapped in misery!"

"Traitor, traitor indeed!"

"Treachery and rebellion, resorting to any means!"

"The current Emperor is a virtuous ruler and shows great kindness to the people of the Northern Lands, being harmed by malicious individuals in the Capital, we cannot turn a blind eye."

"For the honor on the Golden Terrace, support Jade Dragon to die for the ruler, if you have courage, follow me, let's invite Lord Yuann to lead the troops to the Capital and serve the Emperor, to repay the imperial grace!"

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty..."

Undercurrents surge, waves rise, as if there's a hidden hand pushing the winds of the Northern Lands.

Meanwhile, in the Southern Lands...

"The Emperor killing?"

"Is it true?"

"Of course it is true if it has traveled this far."

"The current Emperor, a member of the Song Clan, had remarkable achievements during the northern campaigns and ascending the throne was expected by all, embraced by the people. Why then..."

"Regardless of the Song Clan, the laws of Great Zhou clearly state that the Emperor is subject to the same punishment as the commoners. If true, then execute!"

"Another Song Guan again."

"Oh, why does the Song Clan always fail because of maids?"

"The Song Clan has strict family traditions, it shouldn't be just this."

"No matter how strict the traditions, they cannot withstand changing hearts."

"I wonder how this matter will be handled?"

"Isn't it obvious? Execution, of course!"

"Bright Spirit Divine Monarch, most fair and just, with his judiciary above us, how can he allow scoundrels to go unpunished?"

"I heard that in order to capture Song Yu, a coup erupted in the Northern Capital, resulting in countless deaths and injuries."

"Just for one life, this... is it worth it?"

"What does 'just for one life' mean?"

"Today it's her, tomorrow might be you or me, where does this kind of talk place the laws and justice?"

"What difference does it make if it's the Emperor, murder demands retribution, it's heavenly justice!"

"With such heavy casualties, it further exemplifies the determination for laws, regardless of the cost, we must uphold the laws of Great Zhou."

"This time, using the Emperor's life, we shall prove the dignity of Great Zhou's laws!"

"..."

In the Mortal World, storms are brewing, opinions in the North and South are divergent, one is the ancient order, one is the new legal theory, fierce clashes, escalating continuously.

In the Underworld, in a certain secluded place.

A deity hall, resplendent in gold and jade, a kingly figure lowers his gaze, coldly looking beyond the realm, a trace of disdain emerging: "Decisiveness brings order, indecision breeds chaos, these mere youths are not fit to plan with!"

As the words fell, several Divine Thoughts converged in the void.

"That Evil Demon Power increases day by day, even able to resist Supreme Dragon Qi, using Dharma-Protector Divine Soldiers to forcefully capture True Dragon Emperor."

"Hmph, although the True Dragon is supreme, a large part of this dragon's power is borrowed from him, bound by cause and effect, subject to his restrictions, such a result is not unexpected."

"At this point, can anything still be done?"

"What is the harm in doing nothing? At this point, do you still wish to keep to yourself, not even asking if he agrees?"

"Though the situation hasn't reached a dead end, the True Dragon, though captured, has not perished, still has residual strength to utilize."

"This one deliberately lets it go, nurturing the momentum of the True Dragon, then through True Dragon Blood Sacrifice, proves the authority of his law."

"He is originally the God of Righteous Law, this authority in law is his power, if he succeeds in this plan, using True Dragon Blood Sacrifice to enact Righteous Law, then his control..."

"The power of the deities, commanding the heavens and earth, if even the True Dragon Emperor, representing the Supreme Human Dao, is constrained by his Righteous Law, if this succeeds, then in the mortal realm, would he not become the embodiment of heaven, earth, and humans?"

"Holding such great power, combining the ways of heaven, earth, humans, and gods, at such time, perhaps not even First-Grade Venerable Gods descending could be of any consequence to him?"

"Absolutely cannot let him achieve such feats!"

"While the True Dragon still exists, the Emperor's authority endures for generations, forming a deeply rooted concept in people's minds, exempting high officials, law does not affect the Emperor, now he wishes to defy this ancient sentiment and order, using righteous law to kill the True Dragon, he will surely face backlash from both the old sentiment and Dragon Qi."

"We must stir the hearts of the people, create a great worldly momentum, let the True Dragon make a final struggle, risk everything for a counterattack."

"In such an assault, even if he does not die, he would suffer a severe depletion of Primordial Qi, then we can collectively step in."

"..."

Divine Thoughts converging, planning the final resolution.

Plotting in the Underworld, with action also stirring in the Mortal World.

"Traitorous ministers and rebellious sons!"

"Madness beyond belief!"

"Collapse of ritual and music!"

"Since ancient times, is there truth of an Emperor subjected to law?"

"This pseudo-dynasty's laws are unacceptable, sure to incur heavenly reprimand!"

"For the life of a mere maid, is the Emperor really to lose his head?"

"If this succeeds, it's not only the Emperor's holy authority that will be lost in an instant, but also the millennia-old propriety created by our Confucian Sect would vanish, eternally suppressed by his so-called Righteous Law!"

"Millennia of enlightenment, all reduced to emptiness?"

"How can it be so, how can it be so?"

"March north to the Capital, investing all efforts, to rescue the Emperor, and eliminate the evil demon from beyond the realm!"

"Furthermore, the Daoist and Buddhist Teachings cannot think to remain unscathed. If his Righteous Law succeeds, it will become the second Celestial Rules, even stricter, then the Three Religions and Hundred Schools, all will be suppressed by him, forever unable to raise their heads!"

"Go to the Capital—fight to the death!!!"

"..."