Chapter 1586: I Have a Pillar of the State, Peerless Beneath Heaven!

Only after Lan Ruoting had been gone for some time did the jailer who had withdrawn earlier finally return.

The cell door closed.

The migration into the Fifth Domain was also reaching its end, while preparations for the enthronement ceremony in the new capital were proceeding at full force.

A new world, a new age, seemed on the verge of beginning.

All beneath Heaven was filled with the promise that there would be no more war.

At the very least, that was how the people were being told to understand the future.

No more war.

For the common people, that truly was a stirring promise.

Even those whose present lives remained bitter, even those struggling merely to survive, found renewed confidence to endure.

They hoped they could hold on until the better days finally came.

People and affairs alike seemed suddenly filled with a new breath of life...

...

Peach Blossom Spring.

Beneath the peach tree whose blossoms glowed like rosy clouds, a breeze passed.

Shang Shuqing raised her face to the falling petals, happiness shining across her features.

She reached out and caught one blossom in her palm.

Niu Youdao had returned.

He had come back to the place he had never visited again after leaving all those years ago.

Five years of his life had once passed here.

Now he stood beside Shang Shuqing, keeping her company.

Watching the happiness on her face, he smiled.

"The first time we met was here."

Shang Shuqing glanced at him, her cheeks shyly flushed and her bright eyes rippling with feeling.

Memory returned.

She remembered their first meeting.

She remembered the first time she had seen him sleeping lazily beneath the peach tree amid drifting blossoms, turning over without a care.

She raised her head toward the tree glowing like rosy clouds and smiled as well.

"So beautiful..."

Her voice was almost a murmur.

Niu Youdao watched her for a moment, then turned his gaze toward the distance.

Abruptly, he said, "I'm leaving."

"I'm going to the Fifth Domain."

"I'll be leaving this world, and perhaps I'll never return."

Shang Shuqing's heartstrings trembled.

She whipped her head around and stared at him, a thousand complicated fears hidden in her eyes.

She wanted to speak, but stopped herself.

Niu Youdao slowly turned toward her again.

His gaze was utterly sincere.

"I once asked the Commandery Princess a question and never received an answer."

"Today I want to ask you one more time."

"Are you willing to entrust the rest of your life to me?"

Shang Shuqing had thought he was preparing to bid her farewell.

Hearing those words instead, she immediately became shy again.

Niu Youdao changed the question.

"Commandery Princess, are you willing to come with me?"

Shang Shuqing gave a soft "Mm."

"So long as Master Dao doesn't disdain me."

Niu Youdao smiled. "Once we go, we may never come back."

"Can the Commandery Princess truly bear to leave your family here?"

Shang Shuqing's eyes softened.

She answered quietly, "Qing'er was born a daughter of the Shang family. I have not failed my family."

"Elder Brother is about to rule all beneath Heaven. Whether Qing'er remains or not is no longer important."

Niu Youdao swept one broad sleeve.

A flying mount soared into the air and circled beneath the cliff.

He turned back and extended one hand toward her.

Shang Shuqing looked at him shyly, then stretched out her own.

Her delicate hand settled lightly into his palm.

The gesture carried the solemnity of a rite.

Once her hand rested in his, she had truly entrusted herself to him.

Niu Youdao closed his fingers around hers.

With a sweep of spiritual power, the two flew from the cliff together.

Peach blossoms whirled around them as they descended side by side onto the flying mount.

About to depart, Niu Youdao looked back across Shangqing Sect one final time.

He sighed.

"It's time to go."

Shang Shuqing asked, "We're leaving just like this? Aren't you going to say anything to Yuan Fang and the others?"

"Coming back once was enough."

Niu Youdao swept his sleeve.

The flying mount climbed into the sky, carrying the two of them toward the distance.

A vast flock of Crow Generals rose after them and followed.

"Master Dao! Master Dao..."

Yuan Fang flew over the mountain ridges and landed atop one peak, shouting after them.

The departing pair never looked back.

He scratched his bald head in bafflement.

Master Dao came without saying a word, and now he was leaving without saying a word either...

...

In the Boundless Desert, a group waited.

The people of Maolu Villa had already arrived.

Among them were Zhong Guzi and the others who had remained under soft detention.

Zhao Xiongge was there as well, together with the people of Shangqing Sect.

Yuan Gang had told them to enter the Fifth Domain first, but Zhao Xiongge refused.

He kept Shangqing Sect's people waiting there with him.

A great number of Scorpion Emperors lay across the sand, quietly waiting.

Atop the highest nearby dune stood Yuan Gang, the Three-Roars Saber across his back and a bundle hanging from his shoulder.

He kept staring toward the horizon.

Beside him, Guan Fangyi suddenly pointed with her one arm.

"They're here."

Everyone looked in that direction.

A dense black cloud approached from the distance, growing closer and closer before descending like a tornado.

Niu Youdao and Shang Shuqing drifted down from their flying mount hand in hand.

Niu Youdao swept his gaze across the gathering.

"Everyone here?"

Yuan Gang answered, "Everyone."

The members of Shangqing Sect stared eagerly at Niu Youdao.

Sect Leader Tang Yi's appearance had not changed. Time seemed to have left almost no trace upon her face.

Her gaze settled first on the hands tightly clasped between Niu Youdao and Shang Shuqing, then on Shang Shuqing's face.

She had heard the stories.

She had heard that after the Commandery Princess recovered her true appearance, she had become very beautiful.

Tang Yi had seen what Shang Shuqing looked like before.

Now, seeing her in person, she found the rumors true.

She truly was beautiful.

Niu Youdao gave Shang Shuqing a slight nod and released her hand.

Shang Shuqing turned to face the dense ranks of Crow Generals on the ground.

Then, with a measured cadence, she called out loudly:

"The Grand General is here! All officers and soldiers, heed my command!"

"All beneath Heaven is at peace. Lay down your armor and return!"

A rapid series of explosive sounds followed.

Countless Crow Generals burst into black mist and transformed into human forms.

A vast army stood across the rolling dunes.

Led by the commander of the Crow Generals, they all dropped to one knee facing Shang Shuqing.

Low droning voices rolled over the desert.

No one else could understand what they were saying.

Shang Shuqing could.

Emotion gradually overcame her.

Her lips pressed tightly together as tears slid down her face.

Then the commander of the Crow Generals suddenly rose.

His entire body began dispersing like smoke.

In moments, he vanished without a trace, leaving only his sword and armor behind upon the dune.

After him, the endless army dissolved into mist as well.

The black vapor rose toward the firmament and gradually disappeared into the unseen.

Weapons and armor covered the ground.

A royal standard bearing the character "Shang" caught the wind and blew away into the distance.

The spectacle was magnificent beyond words and shook every heart present.

Everyone fell silent.

Most did not know what they had just witnessed.

Niu Youdao took Shang Shuqing's hand again.

Then he looked back at Yuan Gang.

"Let's go."

Yuan Gang turned and shouted, "Move out!"

People leapt onto the backs of the waiting Scorpion Emperors one after another.

At Yuan Gang's roar, the great beasts surged across the desert.

Then, one after another, they plunged headfirst beneath the sand.

...

When they burst from the earth again, the surroundings still appeared to be desert.

But the sun overhead had already proven they were in another world.

Those arriving for the first time looked around in wonder.

"Ho!"

At Yuan Gang's guttural roar, the Scorpion Emperors once again thundered in the same direction.

After a long charge, the group reached the place where the pyramid had once stood.

Nothing remained there now.

Yuan Gang used the distant oasis to confirm their bearings.

At his shout, every Scorpion Emperor stopped.

Most immediately burrowed underground, leaving the people standing on the sand.

Only the beast beneath Yuan Gang's feet remained behind.

Niu Youdao and the others had ridden the same one.

Most of the group looked around, uncertain why they had stopped here.

Yuan Gang turned toward Niu Youdao.

Silently, he untied the bundle from his body.

He drew out the treasured sword wrapped with it and strapped the weapon at his waist.

It was the Void-Breaking Sword, one of the Eight State-Protecting Divine Artifacts.

Then he handed the remaining bundle to Niu Youdao.

Niu Youdao accepted it and asked, "We've been brothers for so many years. You truly won't reconsider?"

"It's not too late to regret it."

Yuan Gang said nothing.

His answer was already clear.

Niu Youdao did not press him further.

Taking Shang Shuqing by the hand, he flew away from the Scorpion Emperor and landed upon the sand.

"Master Dao, take care."

Yuan Gang shouted, "Go!"

The Scorpion Emperor beneath him swung around and thundered away again.

Niu Youdao watched him recede.

Yuan Gang never looked back.

Zhao Xiongge walked over. "Where is he going?"

Niu Youdao replied, "Back to the human world. He's going to sever the passage."

Zhao Xiongge was startled. "Then he won't be able to come back."

Niu Youdao's expression remained faint.

"After all these years... let him go."

The others exchanged looks.

...

The Scorpion Emperor raced across the desert.

Ahead, the towering pyramid gradually came into view.

The beast charged to its base and stopped abruptly.

Yuan Gang used the remaining momentum to leap high into the air.

He landed halfway up the pyramid and began climbing madly, almost as though his life meant nothing.

He rushed all the way to the summit and hurriedly swept every grain of sand from the stone platform before jumping atop it.

Shing!

The Void-Breaking Sword left its sheath.

Yuan Gang gripped it in both hands, blade pointed downward.

Just as he was about to drive it with all his strength into the recess, he froze.

For a long time, he could not bring himself to move.

His chest heaved.

The climb up those steps seemed to have exhausted every scrap of strength he possessed.

"Ahhh—!"

At last, a long roar of fury tore from him.

He dropped to one knee.

The sword plunged into the stone recess with a sharp hiss.

A deep rumble rolled faintly through the sky.

Before long, storm clouds began boiling out of nowhere.

Lightning flashed.

Thunder erupted.

Yuan Gang turned and leapt from the summit, landing three levels below.

Wind and cloud churned across Heaven and Earth, snapping his clothing violently.

He stared toward the direction from which he had come on the Scorpion Emperor.

The beast at the pyramid's base had already fled underground in terror.

BOOM!

A bolt of lightning split the sky and struck the hilt of the Void-Breaking Sword.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

One bolt after another crashed down.

Thunder exploded endlessly behind Yuan Gang.

Each flash carved his figure into brilliant clarity.

He stood beside the heavenly lightning like a god descending into the mortal world—or like a man gone completely numb.

He did not move.

The earth trembled.

The pyramid began sinking.

The lone figure upon it seemed to be riding some ancient monster down into the depths of the earth...

...

Elsewhere in the Fifth Domain's desert, wind and cloud surged as well.

Masses of black cloud boiled into existence and gathered across the sky.

Above, lightning flashed and thunder rolled.

The clouds spread until they seemed to be forming a gigantic vortex.

Most of the people below stared upward in astonishment, having no idea what was happening.

Niu Youdao raised his head and murmured, "It's begun."

He looked back toward Shang Shuqing, intending to see whether she was frightened.

Instead, his gaze caught Tang Yi standing nearby and watching him.

The instant Niu Youdao looked over, Tang Yi turned her head away.

Niu Youdao released Shang Shuqing's hand and walked over at an unhurried pace.

Everyone's eyes followed him.

Shang Shuqing watched as well.

The members of Shangqing Sect stared eagerly.

With so many people watching, Tang Yi looked slightly awkward.

"What is it?"

Niu Youdao looked deeply moved.

Then suddenly he smiled.

"I don't know whether you hate me."

"I never wanted to fail anyone, but in the end, there are still people I failed."

"Tang Yi... I'm sorry."

Saying such a thing at a moment like this left Tang Yi staring at him.

But Niu Youdao had already turned away.

He walked back to Shang Shuqing and raised his head toward the rotating clouds.

Yun Ji asked, "What's happening? What are you waiting for?"

As her words ended, a black hole formed at the center of the rotating clouds.

Strange, dazzling light gradually shimmered within it, beautiful and bizarre beyond description.

Niu Youdao frowned.

He waited for some time.

When the phenomenon above stabilized and no further change came, he understood.

That strange black opening was the passage.

Under everyone's gaze, Niu Youdao suddenly reached one arm around Shang Shuqing's waist.

She immediately grew embarrassed, but did not resist.

"Hongniang, send us up."

Niu Youdao looked back and called out.

Guan Fangyi was still staring in confusion.

He shouted, "Quickly! There's not much time!"

They had already lost a fair amount of time because he had not been certain whether the phenomenon overhead truly was the passage.

Guan Fangyi hesitated no longer.

She seized his arm and carried both of them into the sky, flying straight toward the center of the vortex.

The people below stared upward in bewilderment, not understanding what was happening.

Just before entering the vortex, Niu Youdao looked back.

"Hongniang, go back."

"Give me a palm and send me the rest of the way."

Guan Fangyi suspected nothing.

She was too accustomed to obeying his instructions.

She thrust both arms forward and poured out all the force she could.

The two sides separated instantly.

Niu Youdao borrowed that momentum and flew under his own power, robes billowing like the wings of a great peng as he carried Shang Shuqing upward.

The pair vanished into the strange radiance.

Guan Fangyi drifted lightly back to the ground.

Yun Ji approached, frowning. "What is he doing?"

Then the strange black opening in the sky abruptly disappeared.

The lightning and thunder vanished with it.

The churning clouds scattered rapidly.

There was no longer any sign of the two figures above.

Only then did most of the people below change expression.

They had finally realized something.

Within the crowd, Nantian Wufang slowly turned his head.

His cold gaze settled upon Wen Hua...

...

Inside the imperial palace of the new capital, the enthronement ceremony proceeded with thunderous grandeur.

Atop the city wall sat Meng Shanming in a wheelchair.

His vitality had weakened badly.

Once the wars ended and the tension left him, his body and spirit seemed to collapse almost overnight.

He no longer had the strength to endure the entire sequence of elaborate rites.

Rather than risk improper conduct, Meng Shanming refused to participate.

He would simply watch from the city wall.

But as he watched, he gradually fell asleep.

His thin body sagged against the back of the chair.

Someone carefully draped a blanket over him.

Wind swept through beard and hair gone white.

In his sleep, he seemed to murmur name after name.

Tears glimmered at the corners of his eyes.

"Datou... Long Bao..."

The enthronement ceremony gradually seemed to fall into an awkward pause.

Inside the main palace hall, Shang Chaozong wore imperial robes while Feng Ruonan wore phoenix robes.

Husband and wife sat above the court, receiving the worship of the assembled officials.

Yet the hall had become completely silent.

The two sat waiting above.

The hundred officials stood below without a sound.

Outside, eunuchs repeatedly slipped in and out, peering toward the distance as though waiting for someone.

Everyone in the hall knew whom they were waiting for.

Niu Youdao.

The auspicious hour of Shang Chaozong's enthronement had already been communicated to him.

Niu Youdao had replied only that he knew.

Those familiar with him understood that when he said he knew, he knew.

There was no point asking further.

That was simply how he had always conducted himself—never letting anyone see the full depth of his intentions.

Put plainly, everyone was waiting for Niu Youdao to appear and give Shang Chaozong final legitimacy.

But now Niu Youdao had neither appeared nor said he would not come.

No one knew what to do.

No one knew whether they should keep waiting.

If they stopped waiting and Niu Youdao arrived after everything was already over, it would look improper.

And if Niu Youdao never appeared to validate Shang Chaozong's position at all, people might begin thinking too much.

Outside the hall, several eunuchs whispered together.

Then one hurried inside.

He climbed to one side of the imperial throne and whispered into Shang Chaozong's ear.

"Your Majesty, Master Yuan has sent word. Master Dao has already gone to the Fifth Domain. He will not return."

Already gone to the Fifth Domain?

Feng Ruonan, who heard the words, turned in astonishment.

He would not return?

Shang Chaozong fell briefly silent.

Then he lifted his eyes and saw every official below staring toward him.

He waved the eunuch away and rose.

His voice suddenly rang through the hall, full and powerful:

"I have a pillar of the state, peerless beneath Heaven!"

The hundred officials bowed in accordance with ritual.

...

After the long sequence of ceremonial rites, Feng Ruonan finished the portion of the enthronement belonging to her and hurried toward the rear palace to receive the wives of the assembled officials.

A eunuch suddenly ran over in haste and blocked her path.

"Your Majesty, Master Dao had someone deliver a gift."

Feng Ruonan was surprised. "Where is it?"

"It has already been delivered to Your Majesty's main palace."

Feng Ruonan immediately hurried there, temporarily ignoring the officials' families awaiting her.

Inside the main hall, she found a large chest.

Feng Ruonan waved one hand.

"Open it!"

Two palace maids raised the lid.

A chest full of gleaming gold coins appeared.

Feng Ruonan stared in surprise.

She had never imagined Niu Youdao would send such a vulgar gift.

Then she noticed a letter resting atop the coins and immediately ordered someone to hand it over.

She unfolded it.

Only a few plain words were written inside:

I've taken Qing'er with me. I've given the realm to His Highness, so I owe him nothing.

I borrowed ten thousand gold coins from the Princess Consort. Today I return every coin in full.

Princess Consort, count them if you like.

That was all.

A handful of crude, ordinary sentences.

Feng Ruonan stared at the page.

Slowly, she remembered when Niu Youdao had borrowed those ten thousand gold coins from her.

The past flooded back in an instant.

The bamboo raft upon the river.

Being maneuvered into a marriage.

Blades flashing in every direction.

Husband and wife turning against each other.

Then surviving it all with someone's help.

How many storms had filled those years?

Now she stood here dressed in phoenix robes.

And the man who had helped them through it all had repaid her money and drifted away.

The jade ornaments at Feng Ruonan's waist chimed softly.

She smiled.

Still smiling, she shook her head.

Then she raised one hand to cover her mouth.

And began to cry.

She could no longer restrain herself.

Tears poured down like rain.

[End of the Novel]

[End of Chapter 1586]