559: Chapter 559 Enlightenment over Time and Space: The Rise of the Late Han Dynasty

Above the Nine Heavens, the many Immortals held their breath, their faces pale with shock. Could even General Gou not last a single exchange?

"Your Majesty, what should we do now? That Great Witch is so tyrannical that General Gou was annihilated in an instant... If we continue to indulge him, where will the dignity of the Heavenly Court remain? How will its prestige be established?" The Queen Mother's phoenix eyes were frosted with ice, her tone three points colder than the Jade Emperor's. At this moment, she and the Jade Emperor were of one mind—if this scoundrel was not eliminated, he would surely become a major threat.

"How could I... not know?" The Jade Emperor gripped the armrests of the Coiling Dragon Chair, his knuckles turning white. "Hateful! General Gou was a high official of the Heavenly Court and a direct descendant of the Chan Sect, yet he was executed publicly like this, without the slightest leeway left!"

The two were at a loss for a moment. It wasn't until Xu Fu quietly stepped forward and whispered a plan. The Jade Emperor and the Queen Mother looked at each other, and a light suddenly sparked in their eyes.

However, the final item needed could only be bestowed by a Saint. Ordinary Magic Treasures could not trap a Great Witch in the slightest.

The two personally visited the Nüwa Palace. After Nüwa finished listening, she did not say a word, only gently pushing the map of mountains and rivers onto the table.

Thereafter, secret discussions, formations, and traps were set, step by step.

Ying Zheng waited for a long time for the heavenly soldiers to arrive, but they did not. Seeing various Sects successively sending envoys to pay tribute, a heart of arrogance gradually grew within him. Penal Laws became increasingly harsh, and forced labor became more severe. The golden tiles of the Epang Palace reflected the sun, and the Lishan Necropolis was deep and eerie—every brick and stone was built from the bones of the people.

Of those who went in, not a single one came out alive; instead, more and more died. Ying Zheng, however, did not care at all. Precisely because of this arrogance and ruthlessness, everyone gradually grew distant from him; and because the incident of burning books and burying scholars intensified, he became increasingly tyrannical and lost the hearts of the people. Only because his prestige was too great did no one dare to defy him to his face, only able to endure and lie low, waiting for a turning point.

Although the Great Witch was strong, he ultimately could not escape the limits of his lifespan. To seek longevity, he searched for medicine everywhere. Xu Fu entered Xianyang at this time, claiming with certainty that a formula for immortality was hidden deep within Mount Li.

Ying Zheng was overjoyed upon hearing this and immediately mobilized his troops to set off, rushing to Mount Li through the night. Who could have expected it was a carefully laid trap—as soon as he stepped into the mountainside, he was drawn into the map of mountains and rivers that suddenly unfurled, suppressed at the lowest level of the Lishan Necropolis, never to escape for all eternity.

Once Ying Zheng was gone, the pressure of the Qin Court vanished, and the world immediately fell into chaos. Even with a million elite soldiers, without someone to command them, they were like scattered sand. Qin Er Shi, Hu Hai, was merely a mediocre man who could not support the overall situation at all. The chaos began in Guanzhong and quickly spread like a wildfire, sweeping across the Nine Provinces within a few years. The Great Qin, which had been established for only fourteen years, actually collapsed amidst the overwhelming anger of the people. With the roar of "Are kings, dukes, generals, and ministers born to their rank?", the world would never know peace again.

The strife of the late Qin thus began. Heroes rose together, competing for the Central Plains.

Jiang Chen's brow furrowed slightly, then smoothed out. This period of secluded cultivation had allowed him to truly glimpse the essence of the power of time and space—it does not follow common logic and is not bound by fixed rules; when time and space move, the Laws change accordingly. No force in the world can stop its flow; only by returning to 'Nothingness' can one attain transcendence. Wherever living beings exist in the world, time and space must accompany them.

The ancient starry sky was indeed a silent Dao field. It allowed Jiang Chen to see clearly the shallowness of his past. Previously, time and space were stable with minute changes, and he had not examined them closely; this time, being deep within the starry vault, he felt the difference—the time flow inside and outside the palace where he now stood actually differed by a staggering hundred million times.

"So that's how it is... so that's how it is!" He let out a long sigh, quietly blaming himself in his heart: he had indeed been too conceited before. If not for that accidental lapse, how could he have lost his target? It was truly a pity. Now that he had reached enlightenment, when the opportunity arrived, he would surely be able to pick up the old trail again—no matter how time and space folded or twisted, it would be hard to hide from his pursuit. Before his voice had even faded, he suddenly paused and looked toward the Earth Star, his gaze calm for a moment before he stopped looking.

But punishment could not be avoided. To dare to disobey his decree and allow Immortals to descend to the Lower Realm was truly a disregard for discipline.

A cold snort pierced straight through the Lingxiao Treasure Hall. It was like thunder exploding in the Jade Emperor's ears; his body shook violently, and he nearly fell from his throne.

"Your Majesty? What is wrong? Has something happened?" The Queen Mother's expression tightened as she hurried forward to ask.

"It is nothing, it is nothing... I am perfectly fine." Though his mouth said this, a bitter smile surfaced on his face. How could it be nothing? Seeing the Queen Mother's suspicious look, he had no choice but to reveal the whole story, his heart filled with extreme trepidation—fortunately, the Holy Lord did not continue to pursue the matter.

The Queen Mother was also shaken after hearing this, never expecting that even the Holy Lord had been disturbed. Other than sharing a bitter smile, what else could they do? The two immediately discussed a countermeasure in secret, striving to cut off the path for Immortals to descend to the Lower Realm. This matter was of no small importance and could not be handled with the slightest carelessness.

After thinking it over, the only way was to supplement the Heavenly Laws. A new decree was swiftly issued: all those on the Immortal Registry, regardless of the reason, were strictly forbidden from entering the Earth Star.

The Immortals were baffled upon receiving the edict, but they were helpless. After all, the Jade Emperor was the legitimate authority of the Heavenly Court; whether they were Loose Cultivators or Sects, who would dare to openly defy him? Those unwilling to follow the order could only act in secret.

Jiang Chen did not care to pay attention to how they speculated or responded. He only waited quietly for news. During this interval, he could just refine and solidify his insights—the more stable the Foundation, the richer the harvest. There was no rush to go to the Earth Star for the time being; that one warning carried its own weight.

From then on, three hundred years passed on the Earth Star, finally ushering in a new situation of the Han Dynasty's decline and the division of heroes.

"This is Luoyang?" Jiang Chen stood on a hill in the outskirts, looking at the broken walls and ruins before him, his tone tinged with disbelief.

"Could it be that you have just arrived here, brother? This is all the doing of Dong Zhuo!" A middle-aged man in coarse hemp clothes heard him, put down the farming tools on his shoulder, and interjected indignantly, "That man committed countless crimes, and before leaving, he set a great fire, burning Luoyang into this state! It's heartbreaking, truly heartbreaking!" After saying this, he shook his head with a sigh, picked up his plow, and left silently.

Dong Zhuo? The prelude to the Three Kingdoms has begun. Jiang Chen's heart shook; he had just stepped out of the Wuji Grotto-Heaven and looked up to see the two characters 'Luoyang' hanging high on the city gate—but the handwriting was mottled and the red lacquer was peeling; it was no longer as it once was. The Han Dynasty had declined, the mountains and rivers had changed color, and even time had quietly rusted away.

He wanted to thank the person who had cleared his confusion, but when he turned around, the man was already gone. Jiang Chen nodded slightly, his fingertip rising slightly as a speck of firefly light quietly sank into the man's back, silent and soundless. The corners of his lips curled up: this wisp of spiritual energy would be enough to ensure he stayed healthy and lived longer than an ordinary person.

By this calculation, it was now the time of Dong Zhuo's chaotic governance. As for whether this man lived or died? He was too lazy to calculate—it was too boring. He flicked his sleeves; since he was already in the late Han, he had to see this turbulent world with his own eyes.

Desolation met his eyes everywhere. Even though the government had hastily repaired the city walls and streets, Luoyang still looked like a withered skeleton barely wrapped in hemp cloth: grass grew in the cracks of the tiles, doors were crooked, and the occasional pedestrian walked hurriedly with their neck shrunk, as if avoiding ghosts. The long streets were empty, and not even a dog's bark could be heard. The disaster of Dong Zhuo had already scared the people's hearts into those of startled birds—who would still dare to stop? Who would dare to take another look?

"Brother, please stay!" A young man suddenly emerged from an alleyway, his voice kept extremely low. "This place is not like any other. You wandering alone, I'm afraid... you'll have trouble?"

"Heh, just a casual stroll," Jiang Chen replied with a smile. "It's strange, there wasn't a single soul just now, yet you dare to come forward? Aren't you afraid I'm a soldier from Xiliang who will seize you and drag you to the military camp?"

The young man's face turned pale, and he hurriedly waved his hands. "A misunderstanding! A huge misunderstanding! If you were truly one of Dong Zhuo's lackeys, I, Yan Zhu, would be the first to spit in your face!" Before his voice had even faded, he had already scanned the surrounding walls alertly, standing on his tiptoes to lean in closer. "There are many eyes and ears here; why not come to my home for a seat? Coarse tea and simple food are better than nothing."

"It would be rude to decline." Jiang Chen followed him naturally. The wooden door closed behind them with a 'creak', cutting off the wind from outside.

"Ashamed, ashamed." The young man rubbed his hands, his gaze drifting out the window. "How can there be any peaceful days in the city now? Yuan Shao and the others drove away Dong Zhuo, but they requisitioned grain even more ruthlessly than jackals. The commoners would rather gnaw on tree bark outside the city than enter to receive a mouthful of moldy official granary rice—as for me, I was truly too hungry to hold out, so I snuck in. It's shameful to say, but even this broken door was nailed together on credit."

Jiang Chen looked at the spiderwebs hanging from the beams, remained silent for a moment, and only said, "No need to worry; no matter how long the winter is, there will always be a time when the ice cracks. By the way, I am Jiang Chen. May I ask your name, brother?"

"This humble one is Yan Zhu, a commoner of humble origin. I've made the Young Master laugh." He scratched his head and grinned, looking truly honest.

Jiang Chen nodded and asked casually, "Brother Yan Zhu, what is the state of the world now?"

"Oh, is Young Master Jiang also a scholar? This humble one only read a few pages of the 'Classic of Filial Piety' with a private tutor, and now I can't even afford paper..." He scratched the back of his ear. "I heard Dong Zhuo was killed by Lü Bu, and his corpse was dragged for ten miles; later, the various generals fought among themselves. Today you occupy Yingchuan, tomorrow he grabs Runan... Oh! Right! General Cao Cao is protecting the Emperor and has moved the capital to Xuchang. This matter is being talked about in all the tea houses in the city—Young Master, don't blame me, this is all I know."

Jiang Chen laughed heartily. "It is already rare enough." He then took out a scroll of golden silk from his sleeve. "I have no heavy gifts, only this one volume. I hope you will use it well."

Before his voice had even faded, the golden silk floated in mid-air and unfurled itself. Before Yan Zhu could even blink, the entire scroll of text had burrowed into his brow like a living thing.

Jiang Chen handed over the empty silk. "The 'Zuo Zhuan' and 'The Art of War' by Sun Tzu, not a single word omitted."

Yan Zhu's hands trembled as he gripped it tightly, his Adam's apple bobbing—those were the ink marks he had copied a thousand times in his dreams! But after just a moment, his face turned red again, and he hesitantly held the silk scroll back out. "Young Master... I... I don't know a single word."

"Heh, so that's how it is." Jiang Chen's smile grew warmer. "Just open it and see."

Yan Zhu hesitantly peeled back a corner. In an instant, golden light washed over his pupils, and countless square characters flowed naturally into his mind like spring water into a canal—he was stunned, his fingers brushing over the silk surface, and he could actually recognize the four characters for 'First Year of Duke Yin'.

Jiang Chen stood up and straightened his clothes, his gaze clear. "Consider this as thanks for your guidance. Do not refuse. It is time to set off—the snow in Luoyang is about to stop; the chess game of the world has only just begun."

Yan Zhu just opened his mouth to say thanks when the figure before him vanished without a trace, leaving only a scroll of golden silk lying quietly in his palm. His heart shook, and he immediately realized—how was this an ordinary traveler? This was clearly a benefactor who would change his life! He immediately dropped to his knees and kowtowed heavily.

He then stood up, wrapped his old clothes tightly, and hurriedly left the city. From then on, there was no more Yan Zhu in Luoyang; in the world, there was one more stranger who concealed his name and started a new journey.

"May you eventually become a pillar of the state." Jiang Chen stood on the city wall, watching that figure grow more distant, and sighed softly.

Leaving Luoyang, he went straight to Guandu. Seeing the two armies facing off, with banners blotting out the fields, he chose a lonely peak to settle down on, setting out a low table and bamboo chairs, waiting quietly for this great battle that would decide the Luck of the Central Plains.

Not long after he sat down, the sound of rustling footsteps came from the mountain path, mixed with panting and urging. Jiang Chen was slightly startled: this place was remote, so why would anyone set foot here?

"The road is too hard to walk! Hurry up, any more delay and we'll miss the time—this battle is the key to deciding the Central Plains!"

"Revered Master... slower... my legs are soft, I beg you to show some mercy..."

"Slow? The young people nowadays actually have such weak leg strength? You're crying fatigue after just a few steps of mountain road? No! If you delay the good opportunity to watch the battle, I will definitely punish you by having you copy the 'Yellow Court Scripture' three hundred times when we get back!"

Jiang Chen smiled upon hearing this: it was just climbing a mountain peak, and even if one knew the view here was the best, there was no need to be so frantic.