Under pressing time constraints, the Jiajing Emperor issued an immediate decree ordering the Ministry of Works to build a thirty-zhang-high Five-Colored Turtle Mountain Lantern Pavilion in the Capital within three days and commanded the eunuchs and palace maids to move out the Daoist books stored in the palace.

Daoist books that could be collected by the power of an entire nation had already been amassed by the Emperor in his palace.

Beyond the Daoist texts, he issued another order demanding disciples of Wang Shouren from Yangming Academy to present all manuscripts of Wang Shouren—whom the Emperor had previously scorned.

He ordered Li Shizhen to select medical books.

He ordered all officials of the Ming Dynasty, civil and military alike, to bring twenty books each from outside the secular classics to the Capital on fast horses; those who failed to arrive before the Lantern Festival would be beheaded.

"The Lantern Festival... the Lantern Festival... the chance to become Immortal is at the Lantern Festival!"

"To think there is still a chance to struggle even before death, haha, the fates have been kind to me!" His tone was weak before he laughed, but after, his posture was heroic, and his momentum soared to the skies.

"The chance to kill the Jiajing Emperor has come! This is our last and best opportunity to complete the mission!"

"Let's go, to the Capital, to seize the Dragon Vein, to become Immortals!"

With each decree issued by the Jiajing Emperor, the Human Tribulation fully began.

◇

Li Qianxia now regretted bitterly.

She pointed accusatorially at Li Changzhou: "Look what you've done! It's all because of your greed that we've attracted so many enemies!"

"Sister Qian Xia, don't be angry," Li Changzhou reclined on the couch, leisurely peeling an orange, "Without a bitter cold, how could the plum blossoms smell so sweet."

"I'm just afraid you'll freeze to death!" Li Qianxia snatched away the peeled orange, squeezing a segment into her mouth.

"Wait, what did you just call me—hisss! Oh... so... sour~~" Li Qianxia covered her mouth as if in pain, her eyes blinking rapidly as if sand had gotten into them.

"Fish leaping over the Dragon Gate, the higher the gate, the more formidable the dragon becomes." Turquoise Pool smiled, "According to the scriptures I obtained, it is recorded this way."

"What scriptures?" Li Changzhou picked up another orange to peel.

"Some were dug out from tombs by the Special Warfare Bureau, others were coincidentally heard by some players who entered instances of major sects."

Yang Qinglan spoke up: "Regardless, what has happened has happened, and what we should think about now is a strategy, not reflection."

"You are at least ten realms higher than Qian Xia!" Li Changzhou passed her a peeled orange.

"You eat." Yang Qinglan pushed his hand back with her Ruyi.

"Afraid it's sour?" Li Changzhou tasted a segment, "Hmm, sweet, try it."

He passed it again, and Yang Qinglan reached out to take it.

"Let me try!" Turquoise Pool snatched it away, putting it in her mouth... her expression changed—she closed her eyes, expressionless, except for her lips moving, as though she had fallen asleep.

Yang Qinglan looked at Li Changzhou.

"You're lucky." Li Changzhou couldn't help but squint his eyes.

Yang Qinglan tapped him lightly with the Ruyi in her hand, at least his heart felt sweet then.

After a bit of conversation, and waiting for the ten scouts sent out to gather intelligence to return, Li Changzhou handed out twenty Blood Pearls to them.

"As we proceed, things will become harder and the dangers greater; just do your best, and run at the first sign of danger. I'll have Teleportation, but I might not always be able to cover for you," Li Changzhou instructed.

He didn't even want to use Yafeiluna, making her risk her life, much less the subordinates of Bi and Turquoise Pool.

It wasn't that he was kind.

It stemmed from a fundamental mistrust of people within him, nor did he want to rely on anyone—there were various reasons, but everyone inevitably parts ways one day; Yang Qinglan and Li Qianxia were his only exceptions.

In a sense, he was similar to Yang Qinglan, both maintaining a distance from people.

"Water Maiden," Turquoise Pool instructed, "after the fight starts, watch over them, and if it gets dangerous, take them and leave. I can escape on my own."

"Yes," Water Maiden nodded.

"You guys too, don't worry about me." Bi lounged with her legs crossed, hands behind her head, floating in the air, candy automatically feeding itself to her.

She gave her orders to her five Russian female player subordinates in a carefree manner.

"Princess, we must protect you!"

"Nonsense, following you is the real danger! With Li Dog around, if there's trouble, just Teleport away!"

"Cursing left and right, aren't you going to scold her?" Li Changzhou looked at Yang Qinglan.

"With a formidable enemy right before us, what harm does swearing do?" Yang Qinglan's attitude was matter-of-fact.

"So I can say it to her, too?"

"No."

"In my life, I've only had such a sour orange once." Turquoise Pool opened her eyes, staring at them both, "I always thought oranges were sweet before this."

"Life is rich indeed." Yang Qinglan tapped her delicate shoulder with the Ruyi, smiling faintly, as if a spring blossom had just opened.

"Blades and shadows!" Li Qianxia mimicked several orchid fingers gestures (newly learned from the Thunderbolt Thunder Skill).

When everyone looked at her, she seriously added: "I mean outside."

Where there are people, there are blades and shadows.

Thus, the Great Kindness Buddha Hall in the palace, which had long ceased to see incense, should be free from blades and shadows.

Li Changzhou stood inside the hall, wherein were enshrined a copper-cast Tathagata, a gold-clad Guanyin, and statues of Arhats, Skanda, and Maitreya Buddha, among others.

Standing beside him was the Minister of Rites, Xia Yan, who had been promoted to Chief of the Cabinet last year.

"Take them down!" Xia Yan commanded, and the eunuchs surged forward, scraping off gold dust and moving the Lotus Platform.

It wasn't long before blades and shadows arrived.

Boom!

The head of Tathagata rolled down, heavily smacking the ground, and gazed at everyone with a compassionate expression, as if to say: "Since you are ordered to dismantle my golden body, then let it be done."

"Amitabha," the abbot solemnly bowed, his hands pressed together, "the Buddha is merciful."

The eunuchs halted, looking uncertainly at Li Changzhou and Xia Yan.

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