Refining the Mountains and Rivers

Chapter 1788 – Unescapable Fate

The old Cloud Mist Taost was now the immortal recognized by the Qin Empire. Ever since the founding days of Great Qin, he had continued living and was a miracle. 

It was because of this that he was named the national advisor by Great Qin two thousand years ago. 

The only thing that made people confused was that National Advisor stayed in Cool Mountain for many years without leaving. There were people who attempted to use him – for example, replacing the Qins and becoming the ruler. 

But without any exceptions, these people always died. 

National Advisor used actions to express his stance and gained the absolute trust of the Qin Empire. 

Some said that National Advisor locked himself in Cool Mountain because he had an agreement with Great Qin to protect the royal blood and fate.

But these were all guesses without any answers.

In the hall, the Cloud Mist Taoist was sitting high up on his chair and everyone had gathered in front of him. 

All their gazes were filled with respect and admiration. Some were dressed in yellow and they looked exceptionally alert. 

Qin Yu looked at the one leading the yellow group. He was a man in his forties who looked imposing. 

Behind him, there were two beautiful ladies who each brought a young boy of around ten years of age with them. From the four of them, Qin Yu could sense a familiar and close feeling. 

It was not intense but it existed. 

Guessing their identities, Qin Yu could not help the strange look that appeared on his face – were they his descendants?

Standing in the corner of the hall, Qin Yu fell into deep thought. 

No one noticed the uninvited guest in the corner. 

When the talk was over, Cloud Mist Taoist waved his hands. Everyone bowed respectfully before leaving, looking slightly drunk.

They thought that the Ancestor’s Dao method was mysterious and every word and sentence he spoke was extremely profound and thought-provoking. 

The royal family of five also bowed with everyone else, respecting the national advisor immensely. 

“Youe Majesty, please wait in the side hall.”

“Okay.”

The current Qin Emperor put his hands together and turned to leave with his family. The two women and two boys behind him looked nervous. 

The national advisor was about to make a decision!

Very soon, everyone in the hall left and Cloud Mist Taoist stood up. He walked down from his high platform and turned to a corner of the hall. He greeted respectfully, “Cloud Mist. Greetings Lord.”

There was a pause before the air shook and Qin Yu appeared looking stunned, “You were able to detect my presence?”

Cloud Mist Taoist looked at the completely unfamiliar face in front of him. However, the feeling was right and he spoke even more respectfully, “My cultivation is weak and cannot detect you. But many years ago, someone gave me a technique which, after practicing, would be able to form a mark.”

He flipped open his hands and a veined pattern appeared in his palm, “I have been waiting for you for many years. You are finally here.”

When Qin Yu saw the veined pattern, he was sure that Rourou had been the one who arranged this for Cloud Mist Taoist. He could thus be sure that this was not a trap. Thinking about it, he said, “Cloud Mist, regarding the Qin Empire, is there anything you want to tell me?”

Cloud Mist Taoist shook his head, “I am only following orders to take care of the Qin Family. I don’t know much about the Qin Empire.”

He was not lying. 

Because when Qin Yu saw the veined pattern he had already ‘mastered’ it. That was a sign that Rourou left for him. When he saw it, he was able to understand and master it. 

He knew everything about Cloud Mist Taoist!

“The Qin Family is just here to inherit the throne?”

“Yes.”

Qin Yu said, “I will go with you.”

He wanted to personally see if there were any tricks when the Cloud Mist Taoist chose the new Qin Emperor. 

Cloud Mist Taoist spoke respectfully, “Okay.”

In the side hall. 

The Qin royal family was waiting. The two beautiful ladies were flushed as sweat dampened their clothes. 

Today, National Advisor would decide who would inherit the throne. 

The new ruler of Great Qin was about to be born!

Both the women’s sons were qualified to be the emperor, but there was only one position. If their son became the emperor, they would become the most respected woman in the world as well!

Emperor Qin frowned, “Mind your manners in front of National Advisor and do not embarrass the royal family.”

“Yes Your Majesty.”

The two women looked afraid. 

Emperor Qin frowned even harder. He did not really like these two women, but their sons were the most outstanding. 

Looking at the two princes, who lowered their heads and remained calm, Emperor Qin relaxed a bit and looked slightly comforted. 

Background was not relevant when choosing Great Qin’s next emperor; only their merits and weaknesses mattered!

At this moment, the door opened and Cloud Mist Taoist walked in. 

Emperor Qin rushed to stand up and walked forwards to greet, “National Advisor…”

As soon as he spoke, he paused because there was someone behind Cloud Mist Taoist.

He was unfamiliar and they had never seen or heard of this person. 

But unknowingly, Emperor Qin could not help but feel respect for this person when he saw him. 

This made the emperor frown involuntarily and doubt grew within him. 

Cloud Mist Taoist waved his hand, “Emperor Qin, spare the formalities. This is a distinguished guest of Cool Pavilion. I invited him to witness this.”

With a single sentence, everyone looked at Qin Yu. 

The witness of the succession…this was enough to show how distinguished Qin Yu was. 

Emperor Qin put his hands together and greeted, “Immortal, we will have to trouble you.”

The two women and boys bowed together. 

Qin Yu nodded but did not say more. He found a place to sit. Before they came, he had agreed with Cloud Mist Taoist that Qin Yu would not interfere. They would pretend that he did not exist. 

Cloud Mist Taoist said, “Your Majesty, please ask the two princes to step forwards.”

The two women instantly looked anxious. 

Emperor Qin gestured, “Go to National Advisor.”

The two princes arrived in front of him. They looked expectant and respectful, “Greetings National Advisor.”

“Mmhm.”

Cloud Mist Taoist reached out and pulled each boy to his side so they stood on both sides of him. 

He seemed to have already come to a decision when he suddenly looked over, “Lord, I feel like you should be the one making the decision today. Choose who will be the one to inherit Great Qin’s throne.”

Qin Yu frowned. 

Emperor Qin and the two women looked surprised. Not only because Cloud Mist Taoist asked Qin Yu to choose the successor but also because he called Qin Yu, ‘Lord’.

The national advisor was a legend in the Qin Empire and it was widely acknowledged that he was the strongest person. 

However, he addressed Qin Yu as lord and behaved so respectfully. If they did not personally witness this, they would not believe it. 

It was also because of this that Emperor Qin and the two women remained silent. Someone who was worthy of the National Advisor addressing as ‘Lord’ must be qualified to be involved in the choosing of the successor.

“Lord, please don’t get angry. I already have a piece of paper in each of my hand with their awarded name. Whichever you choose, the person will then have a new name.”

Qin Yu was silent. 

He understood what Cloud Mist Taoist’s intentions were. He was letting Qin Yu decide Great Qin’s future. If his choice was different from the Central Desolate Great Qin, then the identical and unexplainable similarities between the Great Qin here and in the Central Desolate may split henceforth.

But if it was the same…then it was fate. Or rather, Qin Yu would not be able to escape his fate and would eventually have to have a resolution with the Central Desolate Great Qin. 

There was silence in the side hall. 

The two young royals stared expectantly and nervously at Qin Yu while Cloud Mist Taoist held their hands. 

Qin Yu pointed. 

Cloud Mist Taoist pulled the young boy on the left, “Open the paper in your hand and read it out.”

“Ah…yes!” The young man was pleasantly shocked as he opened the paper, “Wu.”

National Advisor nodded and said, “Then the next Qin Emperor will be Qin Wuzong!”

Qin Yu was stunned. 

Qin Wuzong!

It was Qin Wuzong!

The current Central Desolate Emperor was Qin Wu. 

He looked up at the current Emperor Qin, “You are Qin Suzong?”

Emperor Qin said respectfully, “Yes.”

The two Qin empires had another overlap. 

Qin Yu lifted a hand and the other royal boy appeared beside him. 

Taking the paper and opening it, Qin Yu looked – Xuan!

If he had chosen the young boy on the right, the new Qin emperor would be Qin Xuanzong.

This would have changed the future!

“Hmm? No!”

Qin Yu lowered his head and stared at the paper. The ‘Xuan’ word suddenly grew blurry. 

In the next moment, it turned into the word Wu!

Qin Yu instantly understood. There were two young royals and two pieces of paper. No matter which he chose, the outcome would be the same – Qin Wuzong!

It was not that Cloud Mist Taoist was tricking him but there was some kind of interference in this world. When Qin Yu saw the word change, he could vaguely make out the source of this energy. 

Woosh –

Taking a step, he disappeared and appeared at the Qin Empire’s imperial tomb.

In front of him, there was a tomb that had been strengthened and refurbished. It was the founding father of the Qin Empire!

When he was at the foot of Cool Mountain, Qin Yu could sense this place. It was here…the power interfering with the succession came from here. 

“Who is it! Who dares to enter the imperial tomb?” An angry shout could be heard.

“Hurry, take him down!”

“Back off!”

Woosh –

Woosh –

There was the sound of people flying through the air as several figures appeared. 

Qin Yu waved his sleeve and the world froze. Everyone that was near the imperial tomb froze. 

Taking a deep breath, he touched the tomb and it instantly moved apart, revealing the coffin that was buried under it. Qin Yu walked forwards and pushed open the coffin lid. There was no corpse in it but only some funeral offerings. 

An unassuming bamboo scroll was amongst the items. 

Qin Yu reached out. When he held the bamboo scroll, Rourou’s voice could be heard, “Qin Yu, since you even dug up your own grave, you must know what happened. But I can guarantee you that this was not done by me, but it is because of you.

“After seeing the scroll, put it back. The things have begun and it is impossible to turn back. You must either push through or give up and die. This bamboo scroll is a way out that I have left you. You have to look at it properly…one more thing is, be careful of Li Mu. That brat is not normal; don’t get tricked by him!”

Qin Yu looked down at the bamboo scroll.

Boom –

His heart skipped a beat. At this moment, the wind picked up above the imperial tomb.

The contents of the bamboo scroll were simple. There were just a few words joined together followed by the last two words, ‘Su’ and ‘Wu’.

As he looked up, the words were the names of all the past Qin emperors. 

Buzz – 

A fresh new memory appeared in Qin Yu’s mind. 

This bamboo scroll belonged to Li Ruhua before it was passed to him. Right at the top, there were just a few messy lines without any words. 

It was on a random afternoon, when he was teaching his son and daughter how to read that he had carved these words. 

His son was called Qin Anan. 

His daughter was called Qin Qingqing. 

Boom – 

Something surged in Qin Yu’s heart. 

Theft is never good, try looking at .com.

Qin Qingqing and Qin Anan!

Was this a coincidence? Or was it an unescapable fate. 

Boom boom boom –

Clouds gathered above the imperial tomb, covering the sky. The world turned dark. 

Lightning strikes appeared from the clouds like claws, roaring ferociously!

……

Outside world, mountain peak. 

Above the Grandeur Stone and Millet Tree!

Li Mu’s eyes shot open and he looked at Qin Yu. He was not lying previously. After ten generations of Great Qin passed, though he was still the master of the Grandeur and Millet Realm, he could no longer enter. 

But this did not mean that Li Mu has lost all connection with the Grandeur and Millet Realm. 

On the contrary, he was silently waiting for an opportunity.

And today, the opportunity had arrived!

Qin Yu had gone into the Grandeur and Millet Realm again and opened the tomb. He sensed it clearly but he did not dare to get close to the bamboo scroll. 

“Phoenix!”

Li Mu growled. 

Parasol City, above the sycamore tree. 

There was a whistle as the phoenix flew into the air. The air shook and it disappeared within it. 

Li Family. 

Ancestor Li’s eyes shot open as a glimmer flickered through it. 

Woosh –

In the next moment, he appeared in front of True King Qiongji. 

“Ancestor Li, where did the phoenix go?”

Ancestor Li said, “I don’t know.”

True King Qiongji snorted, “I have things to do. Goodbye!”

Ancestor Li lifted a finger and the entire space froze. The entire Li residence and even Parasol City’s aura fused with him. 

The power of being in one’s homeground was undeniable!

“True King Qiongji, recently I have been practicing a new divine way. Why don’t we exchange blows and you can give me some pointers.”

“Ancestor Li!” True King Qiongji shouted, “You better not fool around. Your Li Family may not be able to deal with the consequences!”

Ancestor Li smiled softly, “True King Qiongji, I don’t understand what you mean. Let’s exchange blows.”

“Exchange blows your head!”

True King Qiongji growled and punched. 

The Li Family’s guardian divine beast had suddenly left and Ancestor Li flew over to keep him here. 

It was impossible that nothing was going on!

It was obvious that the Li Family was trying to trick Qin Yu. They were prepared long before they arrived. 

This meant that everything that had happened since they came to Parasol City had been according to their plan. 

Despicable!

True King Qiongji was furious. If Qin Yu was in trouble, he would not be safe too. The problem in his body was still there. 

Boom –

The two True Kings fought and the entirety of Parasol City shook from it. 

Everyone’s eyes widened as they looked at the Li Family’s residence in shock, not knowing what had happened. 

But the meaning of the horrifying aura was clear enough – a battle between True Kings!

Imperial Capital, Xianyang. 

In the palace, Emperor Qin opened his eyes and a glimmer flickered through them. 

He stood up and took a step.

Woosh – 

He disappeared. 

In the next moment, Emperor Qin’s figure appeared above Parasol City and he looked down at the Li Family’s residence. 

True King Qiongji, who was in an intense battle, felt his heart shrink, “Emperor Qin!”