Chaotic World Book

Wang Daoning's judgment on Xia Longyuan's cultivation was prompted by news he received from his contacts overseas.

At that time, the Heavenly God of Longevity Heaven had said to Xia Longyuan, "You have united the world to experience the process of controlling it, as a step for you to break through the Imperial Realm. Now that you've grasped the potential of mountains and rivers, and the realm is breached, you no longer pay attention to maintenance, as if uniting the world was just a key for you. Once the door is opened, the key can be discarded..."

And then there was another sentence, "But Xia Longyuan, you're wrong... Treating your own God Demon Gate with such a mocking and disrespectful attitude, to cast it aside like a worn shoe after crossing, will surely backlash against you. You achieved enlightenment by ruling the world, and when the world is no longer in your control, your foundation will surely be in chaos."

Xia Longyuan didn't rebut... that was the truth, and any excuse would only provoke ridicule.

Usually, a achieved path cannot regress because of such things; a crossed river doesn't flow back just because the bridge is demolished.

However, due to his injuries, he had indeed regressed back onto the bridge... which was somewhat delicate.

After Wang Daoning had contacted the Family Heads of various houses and discussed the matter, they unanimously agreed that it was feasible!

Thus, there were actions from all sides, such as inciting the Tang family and Wan Tianxiong among others to declare independence. True independence would be ideal, but even if it had not yet been implemented, it was not of great concern. The mere intent was enough to set things in motion, and once it reached the level of "common knowledge," it would already be very effective. Would Jiangnan listen to Tang Buqi or Xia Longyuan? People's loyalties had already naturally shifted.

Furthermore, when their families' Four Sword Formation, symbolic of the world's geography, is added to the equation, it would mean universal rebellion.

What would happen when Xia Longyuan completely lost any concept of "control" over the Jiangshan?

But that's still not enough.

The landscape has Qi veins, and Xia Longyuan chose to establish his capital here, rather than the traditional capitals of Chang'an and Luoyang, because there's a subtle difference with the Earth Veins in this world—other geographical features are very similar to reality, but Beimang has been shifted to a far northern region where the Ancient Azure Dragon once dominated the Dragon Energy, perhaps in the hopes of a revival one day, or maybe for another reason. In any case, only the closer you are to Beimang, the more suitable it is for establishing a capital. Combined, this became the current Capital City.

Backed by the landscape's Qi veins, from a Taoist metaphysical perspective, it can be said that "the state has not yet reached a point of collapse," and in the worst case, one can flee. With Xia Longyuan's strength, he could easily make a comeback sooner or later.

But Yuxu took action and cut off the Dragon Energy.

Yuxu might have once thought that God Demons couldn't be killed, and that it was all futile... Xia Longyuan was clearly of the same opinion. Other than retreating from the world, what else could be done? Yet when the new chapter of the Chaotic World Book came out by the blind man, Yuxu's attitude towards the God Demons behind it remained unknown, and Xia Longyuan's aura was extinguished there first.

Still not enough.

Since a look-alike had been maintaining appearances at court all this time, some traditionally-minded subjects might consider that Your Majesty hasn't really done anything wrong, and seemed quite diligent. He couldn't exactly be called a tyrant, nor was he lecherous. The so-called murder of the Crown Prince was nothing but absurd rumors. Although there were some ill-conceived actions, to say his sins were too numerous to record might still be an overstatement. Traditionally, some might even think that the rebels were the ones bringing chaos to Jiangshan, making Your Majesty seem rather innocent.

Plus, with ministers and martial artists who considered Xia Longyuan to be the rightful ruler of Great Xia—many of whom were loyal to him, and in fact, some purely because of Tang Wanju—his position was maintained.

Thus, Xia Longyuan integrated the Imperial Palace's Earth Veins with its Dragon Energy to create his own personal Heavenly Vault, becoming one with it, omnipresent.

But with the imposter's declaration of "The Tang family has committed treason; the clan will be executed," everything was destroyed.

To say he had no sin, well, here came the sin... To say there was something sustaining him, well, that very lifeline was personally cut by him, wasn't it?

Even Zhao Changhe knew that destiny reflected a trend, and when the trend necessitated a catastrophe, the local Dragon Energy would dissipate without the need for the word to spread. Strictly speaking, the Temple was already no longer really Xia Longyuan's, because neither the Imperial Palace nor the Temple were personal property. They were the instruments of a nation, needing people's acknowledgment to have any meaning; without recognition, they were just tourist attractions.

When Xia Longyuan slacked off by finding a replacement to attend court, he never could have imagined that one day the most critical dagger would be in this person's hand, and almost beyond remedy, unless he could break through the siege at this moment, and declare to everyone that the person was a fake, which would still give him a chance of redemption!

A dragon-shaped Fist Power shot out towards Yang Jingxiu below the high platform as Xia Longyuan initiated an attack!

This might have been his first time "panicking" since his successful cultivation.

Li Shentong stepped forward and punched out as well.

If his "My Fist" was considered the world's most formidable punch, then the Divine Brilliance Sect's Divine Brilliance Wind and Thunder Palm was the most stable defensive palm; distinct from the Xuanwu Defense, they relied on... the defense of the flesh!

"Boom!" The two punches collided, a terrifying explosion sounded, and Li Shentong's clothes instantly disappeared, revealing his corded, iron-like muscles, scarred over and over, at least a hundred times more than those on Zhao Changhe's body.

Subduing dragons and taming tigers, his divine might was imposing!

He took Xia Longyuan's punch and only retreated three steps!

Everyone's hearts steadied. After this combination of punches, Xia Longyuan was indeed weakened, significantly!

At the moment of the punch, four Divine Swords glowed, converging into a dazzling divine light that shot straight at Xia Longyuan's back—it was the power convergence of rivers and mountains!

Ying Wu turned his hand into a claw, and suddenly the space of the battle felt restricted and collapsing, actually the way of space! He hadn't used this even when fighting Xue Wu, so it was unknown whether he had held back then or had recently improved. In any case, this move was the ultimate skill from the bottom of the box!

Li Gongsi and Yang Jingxiu silently drew their spare swords and thrust directly at Xia Longyuan's neck from both sides.

In the sky, the cry of the phoenix surged as fiery flames descended from above—Vermilion Bird had arrived!

No one had the leisure to gossip about her arrival; in such a battle, a moment's distraction could mean death!

Though the number of attackers seemed less than those who surrounded Xue Wu, the elite level was more than doubled. Considering the Sword Array, Yuxu who cut off the Dragon Energy, Wang Daoning who was currently acting on the outside, and Hai Pinglan who had injured Xia Longyuan... it was as if Xia Longyuan was facing the entire Great Xia Heavenly List alone!

The only one missing seemed to be Snow Eagle? In such a grand event, where was he?

...

At the entrance of the Imperial Study.

Qin Dingjiang failed in his acupoint sealing and didn't dare to look at Tang Wanju, retreating somewhat sheepishly, "Head, I..."

Tang Wanju calmly said, "You acted under royal command, I don't blame you."

Qin Dingjiang bowed his head in shame, and muttered softly, "It wasn't exactly a royal command..."

"So it seems you know it's fake," Tang Wanju sighed helplessly with a smile. "But others don't know, and it's not useful for me to simply say it's fake; that would be too unbelievable and unconvincing. In the eyes of the world, this is real."

Qin Dingjiang hesitated. The real Your Majesty is not someone you could kill; if you went in now and cut this impostor's head off, you could actually prove it's fake. However, as Tang Wanju mentioned before, public opinion is controlled by the Aristocratic Families, they could easily make up an excuse about the Emperor's injury, claim that Tang Wanju committed regicide, and the hearts of Great Xia's people would absolutely implode—it was a deadlock.

The only real solution was that Xia Longyuan must be under siege at this moment. If a powerhouse of Tang Wanju's level were to intervene, there was a chance to tip the scales of victory and defeat. As long as the real Xia Longyuan could emerge, then everything would resolve itself.

Tang Wanju looked around, Qin Dingjiang dared not move further, and the surrounding guards, seeing her glance, all bowed their heads and retreated. Tang Wanju stepped away, unimpeded by anyone—such was her popular support.

The impostor in the Imperial Study, grinding his teeth, said, "Tang Wanju! Your family is still in the Capital; do you truly want them to be eradicated here?"

Tang Wanju laughed derisively and swiftly took off into the air.

Far away in the Tang family compound, a group of Imperial Guards rushed in: "By imperial decree, seize the rebel Tang family; any who resist..." Eh?

Before they could finish speaking, they found the Tang family compound, bustling just that evening, now completely deserted, with even a dog taken away by Bao Qin.

How did they vanish without a trace? The relocation of such a large family, without the slightest noise... this could only prove that Tang Wanju had anticipated this moment, and had her family disguise themselves and leave in batches at least three days prior to remain undetected.

This was the ruthlessness of a person who had, throughout her life, contended with the Demon Sect and Alien Clan in the Worldly Society, making even Vermilion Bird Maitreya extremely uncomfortable. She could do nothing about the rotten state of Jiangshan, but in terms of the experience and wisdom of Worldly Society, even Zhao Changhe, known for his investigative skills, was just a junior in her presence.

Yet, knowing full well the danger came from within the Imperial Palace, she evacuates her family in advance and unhesitatingly enters the Dragon's Den.

As Tang Wanju soared through the air, a sigh came from the sky: "If Head Tang would surrender to me and be appointed ruler of ten thousand households..."

Before the speaker could finish, the Spring Water Sword drew its flowing radiance across the moonlit sky, heading straight for the person on the flank: "Marquis Zhenhai's good intentions are well received by Wanzhuang!"

As the sword was drawn, her weak aura began to climb relentlessly. By the time the sword's light reached Wang Daoning, he was confronted with Tang Wanju, who had unsealed the Third Layer Secret Treasure.

"Clang!" Wang Daoning caught the Spring Water Sword between two fingers, sighing softly, "What's the need for this... Your unsealing of the Third Layer Secret Treasure leaves you with at most one hour of life... yet, this Marquis has broken through the Imperial Realm, and your trump card is utterly meaningless, you're still a moth to the flame... Is all this worth it?"