Two hours later, Emperor Jiajing's complexion was ruddy, his foot injury had healed, and he once again appeared as vigorous as a dragon and lively as a tiger.

After Li Changzhou left, Emperor Jiajing pondered for a while before summoning Li Shizhen.

Li Shizhen assured that Emperor Jiajing's body had no hidden issues, but at last he offered a disappointing word, saying that it wasn't necessarily good for the body to recover in one day and that gradual recuperation was the proper way.

After Li Shizhen left, Emperor Jiajing summoned eighteen more Imperial Physicians, each of whom declared the Emperor's body robust and strong.

Finally, it was Tao Zhongwen's turn.

It's odd how people can be, yesterday Emperor Jiajing could hardly wait to have Shao Yuanjie torn limb from limb, but after receiving his testament, he remembered the years of friendship and ordered a grand burial for Shao Yuanjie.

Regarding Tao Zhongwen, whom Shao Yuanjie highly recommended in his will, Emperor Jiajing had a fair amount of trust in him; the man did indeed have some skill.

Emperor Jiajing was born with a certain talent; he knew how to be an Emperor, and he was very clear about one thing: regardless of his own preferences or circumstances, he must never let his subordinates possess only one source of strength.

If he placed his complete trust in Li Changzhou, he paradoxically believed that he wouldn't achieve longevity. It was only by keeping checks and balances that he could get Li Changzhou to give more.

"Your humble Taoist pays respects to Your Majesty," said Tao Zhongwen, his hair having turned somewhat white.

"Sit," commanded Emperor Jiajing, pointing to a stool.

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

Emperor Jiajing tapped his fingers on the armrest of his chair: "Taoist Master, I have something to ask you."

"Your Majesty, please ask. I shall withhold nothing in what I know," Tao Zhongwen said.

Emperor Jiajing glanced at Tao Zhongwen, noticing his demeanor to be more respectful than before.

"Do you harbor any dissatisfaction?" Emperor Jiajing asked, looking at him.

"Brother Zhongkang was supposed to have met his end last year. Being able to live past the New Year was already a grace bestowed by Your Majesty," Tao Zhongwen lowered his head.

Emperor Jiajing nodded: "What I wanted to ask you about concerns the Hou of Immortals."

Tao Zhongwen took a deep breath: "Please speak, Your Majesty."

Emperor Jiajing relayed the Longevity Method and the path to enlightenment as told by Li Changzhou.

"What does the Taoist Master think of this?"

"I do not know," Tao Zhongwen shook his head, "but if Your Majesty permits me to use the Dragon Vein, I am willing to perform divination for Your Majesty."

"Granted."

Emperor Jiajing had some understanding of the matter regarding the Dragon Vein, having previously granted Shao Yuanjie the right to use it.

The chief eunuch bearing the Golden Seal box approached; Tao Zhongwen received it with both hands, opened it, and revealed the Great Ming and the Emperor's Seal within.

A mysterious and immense power descended upon Tao Zhongwen, the "borrowed strength" surging deeper than what Shao Yuanjie had experienced before.

He silently recited the spell, gazing across the lands of Shen Zhou, past and present.

The Great Ming Dynasty was at this moment the "victor" in Shen Zhou, naturally qualified to leaf through Shen Zhou's past and peer into the future.

With one glance, he saw the end of the Republic, the establishment of Xia Country, right up to the instant before the commencement of the Value Game—seeing up to this point confirmed that the Qing Dynasty lacked the Dragon Vein and cultivators of consequence, and the real "victor", regardless, did not care.

This also proved that this segment of history had no impact on the outcome of the contest.

Any history that affected the outcome would confront the "victor" head on, and that path would lead only to death.

The reason why the "victor" is called so is because in any time, any space, any dimension, any aspect, they have already beaten everyone else.

Long-gone gods, including the monarchs of wind and light, of course understood this, but how could they not contend?

Common people facing death will exhaust every effort to fight for a chance to live; how could those destined to be gods rest content as the vanquished!

Just as Emperor Jiajing had said before, what's the point of longevity if it's only the longevity of a slave?

Tao Zhongwen had no intention of probing into that forbidden history.

As a cultivator skilled in divination, he knew better than others the terror of Heavenly Destiny.

"How did it go?" Emperor Jiajing straightened up slightly, his eyes fixed on Tao Zhongwen.

Tao Zhongwen set down the Jade Seal, appearing enervated.

"Your Majesty, if you agree, there will surely be a life-and-death crisis in one year; one hundred and four years from now, the Great Ming Dynasty will fall into chaos, and the one who brings chaos to the Great Ming shall be surnamed Li."

Just as Li Changzhou did not reveal the whole truth about claiming the Dragon Vein to achieve immortality—he took four-fifths—neither did Tao Zhongwen speak the full truth; the one who would bring chaos to the Great Ming was indeed surnamed Li, but it wasn't Li Changzhou.

"Is it Li Changzhou?" Emperor Jiajing pressed.

"The workings of Heaven are obscure, and your humble Taoist cannot see clearly," Tao Zhongwen replied.

"And what is this life-and-death crisis?

"Your Majesty, as an Emperor practicing cultivation, if you succeed, the realm will remain unchanged for ten thousand years, but heaven will not permit this, earth will not permit this, nor will the common people. "

"Are you saying there will be ceaseless natural disasters and calamities, and someone will plot to kill me?"

"The Heavenly Mechanism is unpredictable, not visible without great opportunity, I have done my utmost," Tao Zhongwen responded.

After a moment's thought, Emperor Jiajing relaxed his tensed body and leaned back in his chair: "I just want to ask you, have I embarked on the path of cultivation?"

While this was a matter crucial to the survival of the Great Ming Dynasty, the memory of Shao Yuanjie vomiting blood and dying flashed through his mind, prompting Tao Zhongwen to say:

"You have."

Only with such an answer could Li Changzhou show his weakness, allowing him to avenge Shao Yuanjie;

And because of this answer, history would continue along the Heavenly Destiny; Heavenly Destiny determined Emperor Jiajing to embark on cultivation, Heavenly Destiny ordained Emperor Jiajing to nearly succeed and ultimately fail, Heavenly Destiny dictated the Great Ming Dynasty to collapse under Li Zicheng's power in 104 years.

Tao Zhongwen was continuing the Heavenly Destiny, but what he ultimately needed to accomplish was to change the destiny, to have Li Changzhou die at the moment of becoming an Immortal.

If Li Changzhou died, Emperor Jiajing could not undertake cultivation, and the Heavenly Destiny would be altered.

Could he really accomplish this? Tao Zhongwen wasn't certain.

Since he had decided to proceed, he didn't need to be certain.

"You may leave now. I need to think," said the Emperor.

Tao Zhongwen bowed and retreated, beginning to prepare — for he had already seen the Emperor's answer in the future.

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