Chapter Sixty-Eight: Ends of the Earth
not so safe after all."Just leave these things to me. Brother Jiang, if there's anything else later, just write to me. I have people ready and waiting for you on Winter Island!" he said, pounding his...Random Recommendation:
Now that Jiang Mengxiong has relinquished his military power and is gradually withdrawing from the officialdom, Cao Jie can be said to be the de facto first person in charge of Qi's military affairs.
Inside is the extension of the military leadership, outside is the extension of the will of the state of Qi.
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Once he also demands an explanation from Jing Guo, then this matter is already determined.
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Wang Kun killed Li Longchuan, and there is no need to discuss it any further - or rather, no matter how the people of Jingguo explain or argue, the people of Qi will not accept it.
All that Jing Guo could discuss was how to respond to the anger of the people in this current situation.
Whatever happens in the future will be for the future.
The Purple Microcosm hung high, and all the islands' purple flags were raised.
The "Purple Banner Conquest Dragon," which once appeared on the Qi Xia battlefield, is about to emerge.
The attitude displayed by the people of Qi was extremely tough - they wanted to drive Jing back to the Central Plains or drown them in the sea!
And between these two, Jing Guo still needs to make some explanations so as to be allowed a relatively decent outcome.
Now it's Song Huai's time to make a choice.
Is it about persevering and making even greater investments in the East China Sea, engaging in a larger-scale war Or is it about cutting off one's arm to save the whole body, abandoning all existing overseas investments, and even giving up on the entire East China Sea altogether
But whichever choice is made, it doesn't include making Lou Yue the "scapegoat".
The State of Jing was vast and rich, but the weight of human hearts, even losing a fraction, is too heavy!
Over the long course of history, Jing Guo naturally let some people and things become the "account" for this great empire to continue its journey.
But this kind of explanation must never be made public.
Even disregarding honor, from the coldest perspective of interest alone—
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Today, if we use the terms of surrender to secure the safe withdrawal of overseas investments including Song Huai from Jingguo, while it may preserve some interests, it would cost us the pride of the Central Empire and, more importantly, the sense of belonging among the people of Jingguo.
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But if you're talking about war...
The seasoned Dong Tian Shi suddenly realized at this moment that a full-scale war between the two great hegemons could erupt at any time, with just his thought.
The resulting chain of events is almost unimaginable.
Even with so many years, standing so tall, he seemed to be carrying a mountain on his shoulders, treading a precarious path, and couldn't help but feel awe.
He can only say that he will not give up any Jingguo people and clarify his bottom line. As for further decisions, he is still weighing them!
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Looking at Song Huai now, Cao Jie spoke up: "As the Heavenly Master said, Qi State will not give up any of its people. And it will uphold the dignity of every citizen of Qi—including those who have passed away."
He added, “I think a respected figure like the Heavenly Master wouldn't abandon anyone today. It's just that those who make mistakes should bear the consequences. Whoever is responsible should take responsibility. Lord Lou has authority over his subordinates and cannot shirk his duty. He can stay and cooperate with our investigation. If it turns out that Wang Kun’s evil deeds were not instigated by Lord Lou, then we of Qi will certainly not punish lightly for a missed oversight leading to murder.”
From Tian Anping, Qi Wen, to Ye Hanyu, and then to the purple flags raised on these islands, with the people united in their fervor, the desire for war was intense among both the commoners and the military. Their demeanor grew bolder and more resolute with each passing day. However, Cao Jie, the highest commander, always seemed to leave some ambiguity in his words.
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As for the military strategy of "surround three, leave one," Song Huai also understood it well.
He let out a soft sigh.
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“I think Duke Hou made a mistake,” he said. “The untimely death of Li Longchuan, a great talent from your country, is truly regrettable. Out of sympathy and understanding, we are willing to make some concessions. But this does not mean that because we haven't pacified the East China Sea yet, we have nothing left or even need to lose our bottom line.”
"To the Honorable True Lord Yu Que, over half of the valiant soldiers perished in battle at Cang Hai, sacrificing themselves for humanity's sake. We are deeply saddened by this loss! To whom can we turn to seek comfort for this grief"
Although the truth is that Que has passed away, my Great Jing Empire's sword points outwards. I was unable to protect myself in time, and thus find myself with a blade at my heart, as difficult to sever as bone. But today, those who journey to the sea, are there any who fear death
Although the ancient celestial road has collapsed, there is still the Heavenly Observation of Instruments on Penglai Island.
Although Yu Que may not be here, I, Song Huai, am right before you.
Song Huai, as he spoke, lifted his eyes and said, "If Duke Ding insists on keeping me, this old man might not leave!"
Today, if war were to break out, at least on the current naval battlefield, the outcome is already predetermined.
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Who in the present-day East China Sea can defeat Qi
Even without the sights of ancient pathways, there is still no way to govern a nation well.
Although Song Huai's posture was firm, the word "guest" still showed his attitude - people from Jingguo did not consider the East Sea their home.
So, when the conditions are right, guests are not necessarily unable to leave.
First and foremost, people should treat guests with respect. Only then can visitors feel like true guests!
"Cao Shuai," Tian Anping spoke up at this moment. With this brief pause, he seemed to have recovered somewhat, his speech returning to normal order. But the content of what he said was also unusual.
"At your command!"
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He stood in the narrow gate of the iron-chained city, everything inside was hazy and indistinct. He still supported both sides of the city wall with his hands, as if holding the edge of a beast's teeth, his eyes fixed on Lou Yue, and he said in his mouth: "Leave him... to me."
"Very well!" Lou Yue, who had been silent, now smiled back instead of anger. He turned and walked towards Tian Anping: "I'll leave him to you. Leave him to the great Tian clan. Today, let us see who will be removed from the list! It will be either Lou or Tian."
In a situation of stalemate between two parties, one side always needs someone to play the role of "red face" and someone to play the role of "white face." This is beneficial in tug-of-war negotiations as it helps to achieve the best possible outcome.
Lou Yue is undoubtedly the one who stands firm on Jing Guo's side. Logically speaking, Tian Anping should also play a similar role. They can draw their swords and threaten each other, verbally insulting each other's families, but it should all be limited to "Come at me!"
And both Song Huai and Cao Jie, as leaders of their respective factions, possessed the same level of composure. They could always control the situation and change course at any time.
But as soon as the man's voice fell, a rattling chain noise could be heard.
Tian Anping actually dragged the iron-cast Ji Cheng forward and flew, instantly breaking the distance between the two, like a huge crustacean monster, ferociously pouncing forward. Those eyes were not ferocious, but had a hungry feeling of choosing to devour.
Before he even put on a show,
he had already started moving.
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His desire to attack was so intense, as if he had almost been killed in the fight just now, it wasn't him.
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He didn't even walk on stage!
There's a particularly absurd feeling in the loft, and within that absurdity, anger arises at being provoked by the weak.
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His long hair moved without the wind, and his wide arms swayed with an eerie light.
The faint light instantly expanded.
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He and Tian Anping, and even the immediate city that Tian Anping led, all fell into a vast expanse of emptiness. They were already within the chaotic void.
Heavenly Steps Dao Techniques, Mixed Void · Celestial Dusk Curtain!
With a curtain of holes, heaven and earth are parted.
Within this lies a universe of its own, life and death are but matters of the underworld.
This is a true boundary death duel. From this moment on, no one is allowed to leave.
And trapped in the murky chasm, Lou Yue gazed at Tian Anping with a single glance. In an instant, he met him head-on. Ten thousand strands of ethereal light clung to his fists, as if interconnected with every corner of this abyss, as if drawing out all the power of this chasm—
When the fist strikes, the chasm has already begun to collapse!
His voice was no longer veiled in pretense, dripping with murderous intent: "You're just like... an annoying snail."
At this juncture, Lou Yu could under no circumstances retreat.
Even if he was just preparing to sing martial arts on stage, this time he really had to go to the battlefield!
To smash the snail's shell, to shatter this city walls, to crush this mad fool who doesn't know when to die—
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At that time, in front of the stone carvings on the distant shore, there was only a faint and hazy abyss. All the light and shadow around it were swallowed up. Lou Jue, Tian Anping, and Tian Anping's immediate city were all within it.
The vortex collapses inward, yet the tumultuous power within it expands outward in waves. These waves of power are distinctly clear, though invisible and intangible, they surge with the intensity of wildfire, traversing the heavens and seas. Their searing heat is a testament to the fierce battle raging within.
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In this chaotic fray, life and death will be decided!
Both Cao Jie and Song Huai witnessed this scene, and neither of them intended to stop it.
The life-or-death confrontation between Lou and Tian Anping, and the subsequent nationwide war of hegemony...they all watched.
Just like a mountain is about to collapse, countless people are at risk. Both of them have the strength to hold up the mountain, and they both stand before it, but they wait for the landslide. They are each waiting for the other to speak first. They are testing each other's resolve, seeing who will disregard the consequences more, who can't bear the burden!
So-called struggle, sometimes it's about who is more cruel.
It is said that compassion cannot control the military.
Just as the chaotic vortex churned violently, suddenly a stele descended from the sky!
This stele is tall and magnificent, gleaming with golden radiance.
Like a massive bolt of thunder crashing down, it possesses an awe-inspiring aura, suppressing all directions.
It bears a phoenix-like carving, which imbues it with a sense of sanctity and vivacity amidst its weightiness.
This is the only eternal stele that Ji Zu took away from Cang Hai —
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Wind's Scourge!
Though unable to subdue the vast ocean,
he now finds himself near a small sea.
Because of the ripples stirred up by the struggle among the strong, everyone at this time had to be submissive.
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The collapsed cave that was accommodating the battle has also stopped collapsing!
Lou Yue, with a murderous look on his face, and Tian Anping, with half of his face blown away, were forced out of the collapsed cave and stood opposite each other against the vast sky.
In just such a fleeting instant, the iron city had crumbled. All that remained were a few broken chains hanging precariously on the ragged and fading form of Tian Anping, transforming him into a pitiful prisoner exiled to the fringes.
But he still stared at Lou Yue almost greedily, with his sunken eyes!
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It's simple not to care about other people's lives, just be cruel.
Only when one doesn't care about their own life can they be called insane.
Nobody doubted it. If not for the power of the Celestial Stele separating them, Tian Anping would have undoubtedly rushed up without hesitation.
The building itself was pristine, but his face wore a grim expression. He understood the significance of this appearance of the Taifeng Heavenly Monument. In the end, it was Ling Chen Zhenjun who stepped in to stop the fighting, a clear display of their position.
Lord Ling Chen's presence was unseen, but his voice echoed beneath the Chaofeng Heavenly Tablet, as if supporting it and keeping it suspended in mid-air: "The Central Empire forged the Eternal Heaven Tablet to suppress the sea, with ambitions spanning millennia. It wasn't due to insufficient soldiers, inadequate preparation, or lack of secrecy; nor was it because their will wavered that it failed at the final stage! Perhaps there are countless factors beyond calculation, and perhaps the timing of fate is lacking. Is this also a Heavenly retribution"
He shifted the topic: "Jing Guo may have suffered a setback, but the human race has not lost even an inch. Although Yu Que is dead and Ji Zuo has retreated, there are countless valiant men among the human race who can carry on after him. Their ambition remains undiminished; they will surely have the day of pacifying the sea!"
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His voice rose in pitch, and then word by word, he left, leaving the mocking sky-tablet to fall —
"Today, I leave the Stele of Mocking Wind on the near sea. May the coastal borders remain peaceful and our human race flourish!"
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This Eternal Heavenly Stele swelled against the wind, roaring as it plunged into the water. It carved its way deep into the seabed, smashing through underwater mountain ranges and anchoring itself at the abyssal depths, causing tremors that shook the earth's crust and rattled the islands...yet the surface of the sea remained calm. When it finally came to rest there, facing off against Tianya Terrace, the part exposed above water was still three thousand zhang high!
That shape, like the spirit of a phoenix, danced lightly amidst the resonance of heaven and earth, transforming into the divinely formed characters "Sea Corner".
Departing from the eastern shores, one continues eastward. There are Haimen, Wu Dong, Huan Dao, Da Yueya and Xiao Yueya... stars abound, seafarers reside there, this is the end of the island chain.
The wind here is both fierce and clear, bringing with it both storms and wide vistas of the sea. This serves as a reminder to those living by the sea, cautioning them against danger yet encouraging them to keep watch over its ever-changing currents.
From now on, whoever comes to the East Sea and sees this stele will know that they have reached the "corner of the sea"!
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From now on, across the heavens and earth, we stand apart. Who knows who will return to this mortal world
Ling Chen Zhenjun had no other words, but his meaning was quite clear.
The people of Jingguo have decided to leave the Mocking Wind Stele, painstakingly forged and fiercely fought for in the East China Sea, near the coast to strengthen their sea defenses.
This, in fact, was left to the State of Qi—of course, one couldn't say so openly.
With the sending out of the Zhaofeng Sky Monument, it means that Jingguo has officially shifted its strategic focus. It acknowledges the failure of the Jinghai Plan and has decided to completely withdraw from the East China Sea!
Is this "explanation" enough
At the edge of the sea, the monument stood silently, as if waiting for a reply from all people.
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The tower casts faint shadows, and his face is etched with melancholy. Li Longchuan's death was just the opening act. The shift in Jing Guo's strategy was fundamentally a consequence of the failed Ocean Calming Plan. As a member of the Imperial Party, he was unwilling to simply withdraw. He had been constantly looking for ways to fight back. But at this critical juncture, Penglai Island, a key player in their operation, chose to concede and retreat. If the Imperial Party pressed on, the risks would multiply exponentially!
Dong Tian Shi Song Huai's face was expressionless. He was a celestial master from Penglai Island, his status being close to that of Ling Chen Zhenjun. However, the latter's position was undoubtedly higher, better representing Penglai Island and also representing Jing Guo's final decision.
Cao Jie raised his hand: "Within these walls, we are all members of the Qi clan. Outside, we are all human beings. When the Jing people went to the East Sea, we made way for them, for the sake of the entire world. Now that the war is unfavorable, the Jing people are returning home. As fellow humans, how can we obstruct their journey Pass down my order — anyone returning from the east will not be hindered by any blockades or checkpoints!"
It’s not just that Lou Jue, Xu San, and Pei Hongjiu can leave. Tens of thousands of Dou'e Army warriors who have fallen into the Demon Realm, if they can escape back to the near sea, Qi people will also let them go!
These are the final terms of the deal.
Boom!
The Sea Corner Monument and the last touch of the seabed, stood firmly.
The will of Lingchen True Monarch enshrined in this stele... has vanished just like that.
Sky's Edge Platform, Corner of the Sea Stone.
For a moment, all he could see was the statue of the Dragon-fisher standing there—the Haijiao Monument, opposite Tianya Pavilion, was narrow and did not obstruct his view—lost in melancholy, gazing out at the distance.
The fleet stretching across the sky gradually dispersed outwards.
The Purple Microstar, suspended in the heavens, also seemed to have lost some of its coldness.
The message spread layer by layer, reaching all the nearby islands at the fastest speed.
“The order of the Lord...”
"The Duke has decreed - Let them go!"
Witnessing a looming war between superpowers, it simply vanished into thin air.
No matter what, when the sea calms down, it's always good for sailors.
But at this moment, Song Huai and Cao Jie who stood on opposite ends of the Tianya Stage almost simultaneously turned their heads westward.
They all caught a glimpse of an unparalleled sharpness, coming from the west at a terrifying speed.
From the State of Chang! was also aware of the case involving Jiang Wang and Lin Youxie's investigation, and naturally knew what role the head catcher from Zhaoheng City played.Let me know if you have any other text you'd li...