212: My new sword points to the west

"A mission!"

When Li Chengqian uttered these two words, Zhonglou, who had just risen, trembled violently, and the eyes burning with an eerie blue flame instantly erupted with an incomparably scorching light.

It's here!

It's finally here!

He had waited for this moment for ten thousand years!

During the ten thousand years he was suppressed under the Demon Lock Tower, he reflected and yearned every moment.

He yearned for the day he could see the light again.

He yearned for the day he could once again follow that great Emperor, who was like a god and a demon!

Now, this wish had finally come true!

"Please give your command, Great Emperor!"

Zhonglou's movement of kneeling on one knee hadn't fully retracted before he immediately bowed again, his voice resonant and powerful, filled with impatient longing.

He looked like a large dog that had seen a bone and was wagging its tail frantically.

Li Chengqian looked at his impatient demeanor and chuckled inwardly.

"This fellow is truly a pure battle maniac. As soon as he hears there's work to be done, he's more enthusiastic than anyone."

This was precisely the effect he wanted.

A subordinate with desires was the easiest to control.

Zhonglou's desire was battle.

And Li Chengqian, the one thing he didn't lack, was enemies for him to fight!

Li Chengqian did not immediately give an order; instead, he slowly turned around and walked back to the edge of the city wall.

He stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze profound, looking distantly towards the western horizon.

That was the direction of West Mausoleum Divine Hall.

There, he had prepared the first "great gift" for Zhonglou.

Below the city tower, everyone held their breath.

They knew that a historic moment was about to arrive.

After subduing this ancient demon god, capable of destroying heaven and earth, where would this enigmatic Great Tang Emperor point his sword?

Everyone's hearts were in their throats.

Especially the representatives of forces who considered themselves to have some "friction" with the Great Tang; their palms were now covered in cold sweat.

They feared that His Majesty the Emperor's next target would be themselves.

Under the gaze of all, Li Chengqian finally spoke.

His voice was not loud, but with the augmentation of the National Fate, it clearly spread throughout Chang'an City, and also reached the ears of the great figures who were spying on this place through various secret methods.

"Zhonglou."

"Your subordinate is here!"

"You said earlier that you felt a disgusting aura of light from another world, correct?"

Upon hearing this, Zhonglou's eyes immediately flashed with undisguised revulsion.

"Yes, Great Emperor! That aura is hypocritical, arrogant, and filled with contempt for all living beings in this world! It makes your subordinate feel utterly disgusted!"

"Very good."

Li Chengqian nodded.

"That aura originates from a power called 'West Mausoleum Divine Hall'."

"They claim to be the spokespersons of 'Haotian' in the human world, executing divine punishment and judging all beings."

"They believe themselves to be the Incarnation of light, and all who do not believe in them are darkness that needs to be purified."

Li Chengqian's tone was as calm as if he were discussing a trivial matter.

But to the ears of the crowd, it was no less than a series of thunderclaps.

West Mausoleum Divine Hall!

Haotian!

His Majesty the Emperor had actually directly targeted that behemoth, which had always claimed to be the "orthodox power of the human world"!

The Master of the Academy's back mountain tightened his hand holding the teacup.

"He... what is he going to do?"

He had thought that after Li Chengqian subdued Zhonglou, he would begin to integrate the various forces of the world.

But he hadn't expected that Li Chengqian's first target would actually be Xiling!

That was West Mausoleum Divine Hall, which had been passed down for countless years, possessed unfathomable Legacy, and even had a "Haotian" behind it, suspected to be a True God!

"Teacher, is His Majesty... going to war with Haotian?"

Ning Que, standing nearby, was also listening with his heart pounding.

The Master did not answer, but his usually lazy face, for the first time, revealed an incomparably solemn expression.

He knew that this game of chess had completely escaped his control.

Li Chengqian, this greatest variable, was overturning the entire chessboard in the most violent and unreasonable way!

Inside Tingfeng Courtyard, Xu Weixiong's face showed a smile that indicated, 'as expected'.

"It seems my husband intends to use West Mausoleum Divine Hall as the first whetstone for Zhonglou, this new blade."

She knew Li Chengqian too well.

This Emperor never did anything meaningless.

His series of actions—releasing Zhonglou, subduing Zhonglou—though seemingly perilous, were all for his ultimate goal: conquering all the heavens!

And West Mausoleum Divine Hall, this "outsider" who had always tried to impose its will upon this land, naturally became his first target for establishing his Divine Might.

"Nangong."

Xu Weixiong suddenly spoke.

"Here."

Nangong Pu She responded, her gaze still fixed on the direction of the Vermillion Bird Gate.

"Issue an order for the 300,000 Iron Cavalry of Northern Liang to prepare to advance west at any time."

Xu Weixiong's voice was cold and decisive.

"While my husband is charging on the front lines, we, as his subjects, must naturally clear away his worries."

"Yes!"

Nangong Pu She's reply was simple and crisp.

In her heart, a fierce Battle Intent also ignited!

Above the city tower, Li Chengqian did not know that his single sentence had already set all the major forces in the world into motion.

His gaze was still fixed on Zhonglou.

"Are you not eager for battle?"

"Do you not want an opponent worthy of your strike?"

Li Chengqian stretched out his hand, pointing distantly to the west.

"Now, I shall give you one."

"I command you to proceed immediately to the Western Border."

"Go, and completely erase that so-called Temple of Light from this land for me!"

"Go, and pull that exalted 'Haotian' down from his divine throne for me!"

"I want all gods, all demons, in heaven and on earth, to see clearly!"

"Who, in this world, is the true master!"

Li Chengqian's voice, at this moment, became utterly domineering!

That supreme Divine Might, originating from Emperor Gouchen, who wielded the military power of heaven and earth, perfectly merged with his own Human Emperor's Domineering.

The entire Chang'an City trembled violently under his will!

The wind and clouds changed color, and thunder roared!

It was as if the entire world was quivering in anticipation of the divine decree he was about to issue!

"Zhonglou!"

"Do you dare, for me, to be this blade that slays gods?!"

When the question was uttered, the entire world seemed to fall into absolute silence at that moment.