I Have a Sword

Zhou Fan was issuing a series of orders inside the Heir's Hall. She had decided to recall every single top-tier supreme elite with a hundred percent divinity. To deal with the Evil Dao Alliance, ordinary supreme elites were naturally of no use; in fact, even those at the hundred percent divinity wouldn't be effective against them. In a war between civilizations, victory or defeat would be determined by the top-tier supreme elites of both sides. Despite that, she still recalled such experts.

She had to prepare for the worst-case scenario, after all.

If they were to fight, they would fight with all their might.

Just then, Zhou Mu and Dao Jun walked in.

Zhou Mu bowed deeply to Zhou Fan and said, "Greetings, Your Highness."

Dao Jun also gave a slight bow. Any clan within the Great Zhou's territory had to obey the Great Zhou Imperial family's orders.

Zhou Fan put down the edict in her hand and looked at Zhou Mu with a smile. "Second Brother, Dao Jun, please sit."

Chairs were brought and placed behind the two of them.

Zhou Mu sat down, but he seemed to have remembered something, so he sat down on the edge of his seat.

Zhou Fan said, "Dao Jun, Second Brother, I invited you here for one thing, and that is to deal with the Evil Dao Alliance."

Zhou Mu hesitated and was about to speak, but he saw that Zhou Fan's gaze was on Dao Jun.

Seeing Zhou Fan looking at him, Dao Jun pondered for a moment and then said, "Your Highness, there's something I don't understand. Please enlighten me."

Zhou Fan replied, "Please speak, Dao Jun."

Dao Jun asked, "What is the enmity between Young Master Ye and the Evil Dao Alliance? Can it be resolved?"

"As far as I know, Young Master Ye is from a universe region called Guanxuan. In that place, there is an extremely powerful expert who has been suppressing their universe tribulation for quite a while now.

"The Evil Dao Alliance's goal is to rescue the Evil Dao of that tribulation!"

"Is Young Master Ye related to that expert?"

Zhou Fan nodded. "Yes."

After pondering for a moment, Dao Jun asked, "Is the conflict irreconcilable?"

"Yes."

Dao Jun suddenly asked, "How much do you know about that Young Master Ye?"

Zhou Fan remained silent. She didn't really know much about Ye Guan.

Dao Jun stared deeply at Zhou Fan and said, "It seems that your feelings toward Young Master Ye are eighty percent emotion and twenty percent interest."

Zhou Fan didn't refute.

"Your decision to stay in the Great Zhou is entirely out of affection."

Zhou Fan smiled. "Dao Jun, if it hadn't been for this opportunity, I wouldn't have had any chance in the succession war."

In the Great Zhou, the Dao Clan and the Fantian Temple were the two strongest forces. These two forces were supporting Zhou Mu and Zhou Di, respectively.

As for her, the force supporting her was the Xuanxian Clan, which was slightly weaker than the Dao Clan and the Fantian Temple.

The Right Elder and the Left Elder were from the Xuanxian Clan. Fortunately, her maternal family was stronger than the maternal families of Zhou Mu and Zhou Di.

Dao Jun said, "Your Highness, we are currently facing two major problems. First, we do not know the true strength of the Evil Dao Alliance. Second, we do not know the true strength of the force behind Young Master Ye."

Zhou Fan nodded. "I understand."

Dao Jun glanced at Zhou Fan and then said, "We only have one choice—support Young Master Ye at all costs."

"Yes."

Dao Jun fell silent.

Zhou Fan stood up and explained, "To be honest, Dao Jun, the reason I stayed to compete for the heir is both for my own interest and for the empire's interest. Personally, I have feelings for Young Master Ye. I like him, so I want to help him. I believe that the Great Zhou will not regret choosing Young Master Ye. We can leverage Young Master Ye to become a Tier Five civilization!"

A Tier Five civilization.

Dao Jun looked at Zhou Fan. "I've thought of that, but I'm not certain of it. Is Young Master Ye really from a Tier Five civilization?"

"He must be from a Tier Five civilization," Zhou Fan said. She wasn't entirely sure, but she had to insist that Ye Guan was from a Tier Five civilization. Sometimes, one couldn't afford to be too honest.

Dao Jun nodded slightly and replied, "I understand. Did you summon me to deploy the Dao Clan's Dao Destruction Array?"

Dao Destruction Array?! Zhou Mu was startled. The Dao Destruction Array was the Dao Clan's most powerful formation, created by their founder. Once activated, it could annihilate gods and destroy Daos.

Its power was on par with the Immortal Suppression Array created by the Founding Ancestor of the Great Zhou.

Zhou Fan nodded. "Yes."

Dao Jun remained silent.

Zhou Fan said, "On behalf of Young Master Ye, I promise you that once the Dao Destruction Array is activated, he will owe the Dao Clan a favor. If he is indeed from a Tier Five civilization, the Dao Clan can expand there. The Dao Clan can create a school and will be allowed to recreate disciples in their territory."

After a brief silence, Dao Jun said, "I had already summoned the twelve patriarchs of our Dao Clan. They should be in the imperial city by now. As for the Dao Destruction Array, it can be activated at any time."

Zhou Fan was slightly taken aback, and then she bowed slightly out of respect. Dao Jun sidestepped, avoiding the bow, and said, "Your Highness, we must use our full strength against the Evil Dao Alliance."

"I understand."

"And do not forget to recruit the Fantian Temple..."

"Yes, I'm planning on visiting the Fantian Temple. Would you like to accompany me?"

Dao Jun shook his head and replied, "Your Highness, you must be aware of the relationship between the Dao Clan and the Fantian Temple. My presence would only cause trouble."

Zhou Fan nodded and then turned to Zhou Mu, smiling, "Second Brother, the Great Zhou is vast, and I can't manage it alone. I need your assistance."

Zhou Mu stood up excitedly. "Of course, I will do my best."

Zhou Fan smiled. After giving some instructions, she left the Heir's Hall, transforming into a stream of light that disappeared into the horizon.

Soon, she arrived at the foot of a large mountain, accompanied by an old man dressed in court robes.

As soon as Zhou Fan reached the foot of the mountain, she heard the sound of a bell echoing from the mountaintop.

The Fantian Temple!

The Fantian Temple was nestled in a mountain range, and it was surrounded by towering peaks that seemed to pierce the sky, presenting a magnificent sight.

The mountains were shrouded in mist, giving them an ethereal, almost paradise-like appearance.

Zhou Fan had no time to admire the beautiful scenery as she quickly made her way to the mountaintop, where an ancient temple came into view.

The temple was built on a cliff, making it appear to be clinging precariously to the cliff from a distance.

It was a truly awe-inspiring and nerve-wracking sight.

Due to the ongoing succession war, it had been years since Zhou Fan had visited the Fantian Temple.

Awen, the old man in court robes, said, "Your Highness, Ci Di has returned to the Fantian Temple."

Zhou Fan smiled. "Then let's wait for him."

Awen nodded.

Zhou Fan then asked, "I heard that Master Ci Tian was once a bandit?"

Awen nodded slightly, "Indeed. He was a man with bloody hands. Later, he was enlightened by the previous Abbot and became a Buddhist."

"A bandit by nature? He must have had a violent temper. How could he be willing to become a Buddhist?" Zhou Fan asked.

Awen calmly replied, "The previous Abbot wasn't a virtuous person as well."

Zhou Fan was taken aback, and then she smiled. "I see."

***

An elderly monk in a kasaya was sitting cross-legged on a meditation cushion inside the Fantian Temple.

A string of wooden prayer beads was in his hands, and he was reciting an ancient scripture.

Ci Di was standing in front of him.

Ci Di took a step forward just then, and his expression was fierce as he exclaimed, "Senior Brother, let's do it!"

The old monk opened his eyes. Instead of responding, he picked up a pot of boiling tea beside him and handed it to Ci Di.

Ci Di hurriedly said, "Senior Brother, I am not thirsty."

The old monk stared at Ci Di, "Hold it without using any divine power to protect yourself."

Ci Di was a bit speechless, but he dared not retort. He could only comply, so he grabbed the teapot.

The old monk pressed his right hand down, suppressing Ci Di's cultivation base.

Ci Di's expression changed drastically, and he tried to let go of the teapot, but it seemed to be glued to his hand.

Ci Di exclaimed in horror, "Senior Brother, what are you doing?!"

"Does it burn?" asked Ci Tian.

Ci Di cried out, "Of course, it burns! Take it away!"

Ci Tian lifted his right hand, and the teapot fell to the ground, spilling everywhere.

Ci Tian pressed his hands together and softly said, "Let go, and it won't hurt."

"Are you saying that we shouldn't bother with pretenses and just raise a rebellion?" Ci Di asked.

"You dumbass!" Ci Tian was furious. "You fucker!"

Ci Di was speechless.

Ci Tian hurriedly put his palms together again, murmuring, "My apologies, my apologies. As a monk, how could I curse? My apologies..."

Ci Di hesitated before asking, "Senior Brother, can we really just give up? Are we really going to be satisfied with this?"

After calming himself down, Ci Tian looked at Ci Di and asked, "Can you defeat His Majesty?"

Ci Di thought for a moment and then shook his head. The Emperor of Great Zhou had been a cultivator for hundreds of thousands of years now, so he was too strong for Ci Di to fight.

Ci Tian asked again, "Can our Fantian Temple defeat the Great Zhou?"

Ci Di shook his head once more.

"Then what is there to be dissatisfied about?" Ci Tian asked.

Ci Di solemnly asked, "Senior Brother, I've been blinded. How can I not seek revenge?"

Ci Tian glanced at Ci Di's eyes and sighed softly. "Have you never considered that the individual who blinded you has a strength far beyond what you can contend with?"

Ci Di said, "I know that swordsman is too strong for me, but you can definitely fight them! With you here, what do I have to fear? Let's just do it."

"Can you stop dragging me into this mess, you fucker?!" Ci Tian was furious. He put his hands together again and muttered, "My apologies, my apologies. I can't help but swear whenever I'm with you. Truly, my apologies."

Ci Di was speechless.

After reciting the heart sutra several times to calm himself down, Ci Tian looked up at Ci Di and said, "That young man has the Tianxing Flame..."

Ci Di couldn't help but say, "He definitely isn't from the Tianxing Civilization. He was just bluffing. And even if he's from the Tianxing Civilization, what is there to fear with you here?"

"Enough!" Ci Tian roared, pointing at Ci Di in rage. His voice was trembling as he exclaimed, "You fool! If it hadn't been for our master's instructions, I would have killed you today to prevent you from bringing disaster to our Fantian Temple!"

Ci Di was dumbfounded.

Ci Tian roared, "What are you standing here for?! Go into seclusion! If you come out within a hundred years, I'll kill you myself!"

Seeing that Ci Tian was genuinely furious, Ci Di dared not respond. He turned around and left in a hurry.

Left all alone, Ci Tian sat back down and took a deep breath, muttering, "Damn it! I've been reciting Buddhist scriptures for thousands of years to eliminate my sins, and here you are trying to ruin my efforts."

Just then, a young monk walked into the hall.

Ci Tian's compassionate demeanor immediately appeared.

The young monk bowed and said, "Abbot, the Ninth Princess of the Great Zhou Imperial family is waiting at the gates."

Ci Tian hurriedly said, "Invite her in."

The young monk got up to leave, but Ci Tian added, "No, I'll go and invite her in myself."

With that, he disappeared into thin air.

Zhou Fan was astonished to find an old monk walking toward her.

The old monk was none other than Ci Tian!

Ci Tian walked up to Zhou Fan and pressed his hands together, saying, "Your Highness, I apologize for coming here late. Please forgive me."

"Master, I'm here to seek the help of the Fantian Temple," Zhou Fan said, going straight to the point.

Ci Tian smiled and said, "As monks, we care about the world. As long as it is for the Great Zhou, the Fantian Temple will do everything in its power..."

Zhou Fan directly said, "I want to fight the Evil Dao Alliance."

Ci Tian blinked. "Oh."

Zhou Fan earnestly said, "I need you to activate the Dao Armor Array of the Fantian Temple to protect someone for me."

Ci Tian remained silent.

Zhou Fan was about to speak when a shadowy figure suddenly appeared in front of her.

"Your Highness, the Evil Dao Alliance is about to attack Young Master Ye. We detected five Path Creation Realm experts making a beeline for him..." reported the shadowy figure.

Zhou Fan turned to Ci Tian and said blandly, "Master, please activate the Dao Armor Array. Otherwise, I will kill myself here right in front of you."

Holy fuck! Ci Tian was instantly paralyzed with fear.