Chapter 714: The Path of Sequence (4)

Chapter 714: The Path of Sequences (Part IV)

"Zhang Fengyue, what on earth do you intend to do?"

Zhu Yiyan’s countenance flared with thunderous wrath, his sharp gaze piercing toward that withered tree.

The appearance of the Legal Sequence Lawkeeper within Chengdu Prefecture caused him an acute, profound unease.

Moreover, as an expert of the Diplomatic Sequence Two, he could distinctly sense that the sovereign domain of the Yellow Millet, which belonged to Zhan Shun, was rapidly collapsing and dispersing!

"Tell Us clearly, what exactly is this Equalization of the Yellow Millet?!"

Zhu Yiyan bellowed in an angry roar, yet beneath his forceful tone leaked a sliver of unmaskable disarray and dread.

This demeanor stood in stark contrast to his prior majesty as a ruler who held all wisdom in hand and manipulated alliances at will. But the successive anomalies had pulled the situation entirely out of his control; the current Zhu Yiyan could no longer care for such appearances.

"By now, you should have already understood a portion of it."

Zhang Fengyue’s voice was exceedingly faint, as light as a speck of dust floating upon the wind.

The moonlight and the firelight spilled over him together, making his gaunt silhouette seem as though it might merge with the withered tree behind him at any moment.

"The advent of the Yellow Millet was a blessing meant to benefit tens of thousands of people. Within the Yellow Millet, everyone could wander with past sages, listen to grand scholars debate classic texts, and watch immortals ride upon cranes. One could perceive past history, mend the regrets of the mortal world, and deduce the trajectory of the future."

"Yet the Yellow Millet likewise possesses flaws it cannot conceal—the predatory Yellow Millet ghosts, the dream-weaving Sequence followers running rampant... the strong can plundering the dreams of the weak at whim, dictating their consciousness, and enslaving their freedom."

"The weak being meat for the strong is an immutable rule since antiquity. Even if you gather all the authority of the Yellow Millet now and forcibly erase its will, what kind of rules could you possibly write to protect the safety of those ants? How long could your sanctuary truly endure?"

Zhu Yiyan cut in sharply, a disdainful, cold sneer upon his face. "Human hearts are inherently evil, and their desires are a bottomless abyss. This fat meat of the Yellow Millet will never lack starving wolves coveting it. So long as the authority over the Yellow Millet exists, sooner or later someone will strike to seize it, trying every means to shatter the rules you set down. When that time comes, everything you do will still be in vain!"

"This old man knows. However, since the Yellow Millet is bound to have a master sooner or later, why must it be a single individual, and not the myriad masses?"

Those placid words struck Zhu Yiyan’s heart like a clap of sudden thunder, causing his inner emotions to surge and churn, unable to settle for a long time.

"From this day forth, every citizen of Ming who enters the Yellow Millet—regardless of man, woman, young, old, wealthy, or destitute—shall receive an equal portion of authority that belongs to them alone, serving as a beacon to guide them in discerning truth from falsehood, and a key to lock the gates of their own minds."

Zhang Fengyue spoke slowly, "They may continue to believe in cults and sects, but they will no longer be deluded into fanatical zealots. They may continue to pursue their dreams, but they need no longer fear losing their lives to possession by Yellow Millet ghosts. They may continue to enjoy the remainder of their days in peace, but they will never again dwindle into anyone's sovereign domain or dynastic realm."

"So from the very day you stepped forward to shield the Legal Sequence, you had already laid your plans. You directed them to construct the Yellow Millet Law Domain, guiding them to sacrifice themselves to become Lawkeepers. Then, utilizing this horde of unperceiving, unthinking, and desireless puppets, you intend to execute this Equalization of the Yellow Millet in your stead, distributing all authority to that pack of ants!"

Zhu Yiyan's face turned ashen as he questioned in disbelief, "Zhang Fengyue, you have exhausted your mind and schemes to scatter this sovereign domain—could it be that you yourself never harbored even a shred of ambition?"

Just how important the Yellow Millet was required no further words.

In Zhu Yiyan’s eyes, it was entirely another realm, far more vast and boundless than the Ming Empire, holding infinite possibilities.

And at this very moment, Zhang Fengyue, having grasped all the authority of the Yellow Millet, was the undisputed Lord of the Yellow Millet.

He could even directly abandon his existence in the mortal world, utilizing the Yellow Millet to extend his own lifespan, reconstructing his Grand Scholar Sequence domain, breaking the shackles left behind by successive ancestral emperors of the Zhu family, and breaking through into the unprecedented Confucian Sequence One to become the eternal teacher of ten thousand generations.

Yet now, Zhang Fengyue wanted to hand over this longevity, which was within his easy reach, to others—this was something Zhu Yiyan simply could not fathom, nor did he wish to understand!

"Hahaha..."

Zhu Yiyan abruptly erupted into a fit of grand laughter, as though the words he had just heard were the most ludicrous joke in the world.

"Zhang Fengyue, even at this stage, you still wish to deceive Us?"

Zhu Yiyan wiped away the tear of laughter from the corner of his eye. "To think of using such a method to turn the tide and extend your life to live anew, you are indeed deep and calculating, with a mind as profound as the sea. Even though Our actions have been exceedingly cautious, We still plunged headlong into your trap, reduced to a mere tool for you to achieve your aims."

Zhu Yiyan paused his speech, as if suddenly remembering something, a self-mocking expression surfacing upon his face.

"A tripartite balance of power to form a check. So it turns out there was never any position for Zhan Shun in this; there was only your divine authority, Zhang Fengyue."

Zhu Yiyan shifted his tone, sneering coldly, "But We are truly curious—if Li Jun knew that he too was being played by you until his head spun, what would he think?"

"This old man has never deceived him, nor have I ever deceived you."

Within those eyes that were about to be submerged by withered desolation, a few specks of gentleness shone through.

"You never deceived me?"

"In the past, I merely wished to excise all the diseased loci upon this empire's body, to wipe away all filthy mire, and deliver a brand-new, clean Ming into your hands."

Zhang Fengyue said dejectedly, "Alas, things went against my wishes..."

"Put away this hypocritical display of yours, Zhang Fengyue."

Zhu Yiyan harshly interrupted the other’s words. "Even if you once possessed a shred of goodwill and regarded Us as your student... from Hongwu to Jiaqi, nearly a hundred sovereigns of Our Zhu family have exhausted their thoughts and spilled their heart's blood to manage this thousand-year realm, nurturing hundreds of millions of subjects. With a single phrase of 'not clean,' you wish to overthrow everything and start anew? Do you think that is possible?"

The old man closed his eyes in dejection, speaking no further.

"During that instruction in the imperial palace, you told Us that there are only two paths lying before this empire. Now that you have chosen to let everyone enter the Sequences, We shall deliberately walk that path where 'no one enters the Sequences.' The Sequences arose because of Our Zhu family, so they can only ever be controlled within the hands of Our Zhu family!"

"You may well hide within the Yellow Millet and watch closely to see clearly how We shall slay Li Jun today and unify the mortal domains. Then, We shall drag you out from the Yellow Millet, cut you into a thousand pieces, and scatter your ashes to the wind!"

Zhu Yiyan placed his hands behind his back and turned, stepping into the void and rising into the air.

In the distance, the city rumbled like thunder, the great battle raging fiercely.

"Zhang Fengyue, Our words to you are these: We shall not be anyone's puppet. We shall forever be the ruler of this Ming Empire, Emperor Jiaqi, Zhu Yiyan!"

The sovereign flicked his sleeve, and ten thousand citizens bowed in worship.

The billowing momentum of the sovereign domain rolled forth, crushing down upon the entire city.

Boom!

Boom!

Beneath the fiery red canopy of the sky, a figure as colossal as a giant god ran rampant within the city.

A beam of black-red lightning dashed and lunged through the air, evading the colossal fist smashed down by the giant god, crashing savagely toward its face.

Scarlet ripples violently rippled and expanded; the lightning was deflected and sent flying backward for a full hundred Zhang before it barely managed to halt its retreating momentum.

"Have you opened your eyes to see clearly? Is there even a single aspect where the Military Sequence is inferior to his Martial Sequence?!"

The voice was like exploding thunder, sweeping across all directions.

Zhu Pingxu howled madly toward the heavens, two clusters of green-gold flame burning within his hollow eye sockets. His mechanical chassis, exceeding ten Zhang in height, was mostly submerged in a mist that resembled river tides; portions of his exposed skin reflected a bronze luster, fully engraved with patterns resembling flames.

That 'Suiren' mechanical heart pumped relentlessly within his chest, radiating an incomparably intense, scorching heat at every moment. Fierce winds blew in gusts, waves of mist surged, and a wild, primordial aura that spanned across primordial antiquity filled the entire city of Jinling.

At this moment, he was the true Military Sequence Two.

The Armament Beacon Lord!

A hundred Zhang away, Li Jun stood suspended in the air with a solemn countenance, the five fingers of his right hand continually flexing and extending, his entire right arm trembling incessantly.

From Zhu Pingxu’s body, he had thoroughly experienced a powerful force entirely distinct from a sovereign domain—that was a boundless, grand might belonging solely to an individual.

A domain of fire shrouded Zhu Pingxu's entire body, one that even kinetic force tempered to its utmost limit could not tear through!

"So this is the power after ascending to Sequence Two..."

Li Jun muttered to himself. The protracted, bloody battle had not made him feel fatigued; instead, he grew increasingly excited.

Gazing at that terrifying figure occupying his entire field of vision in the distance, Li Jun took a whale-like breath of the night wind filled with gunpowder and the stench of blood. An excited expression surged through his features, and a tangible battle intent violently soared.

Conspiracies and hidden schemes had long made him feel utterly weary.

A life-and-death struggle—this was precisely what the Martial Sequence ought to do!

Thump!

Within his chest, his heartbeat was like a drum, its sound shaking the heavens, every single strand of muscle trembling.

Within his eyes, his divine light was like lightning, piercing through the dark night, every ounce of his will crying out.

The dark-golden ink armor rose and expanded again, one zhang. two zhang three zhang four zhang.

Li Jun's body kept rising, like a tiger standing upright, the armor covering his body extended with his physique, black-red lightning wrapped around his arms, crackling.

"Whoosh"

A stream of vital energy with a crimson hue sprayed from his nostrils, and behind Li Jun unfolded a restlessly clamoring black-flame banner, yet it had not a trace of heat, only bone-chilling killing intent soaring straight to the heavens.

Sharp force and collapsing momentum gathered at his fist!

Victory and deception draped upon the armor!

Tempered martial spirit thoroughly ignited the organs within his abdomen!

Steel tendons and iron bones cast a mountain range ten thousand miles long!

All martial warriors of the mortal world raised their blades, determined to slaughter this colossal divine general!

Thud!

Li Jun stepped into the void, cracks spreading beneath his feet, the shrill suona still screaming, and the accompanying zither notes had climbed to their peak.

"Kill him!"

Within the crimson single eye, Lord Ma burst into loud laughter.

Li Jun slowly raised the corners of his mouth, grinning with unbridled arrogance, and nodded in response: "Of course!"

Each word was forceful and resounding, carrying weight.

But the figure had already vanished from the spot!

"No matter how many times you try, it's useless. No matter how strong the Lone Martial Sequence Three is, it can't let you cross this chasm between humans and gods!"

Zhu Pingxu laughed loudly: "Li Jun, don't you understand yet?!"

Bang!

The figure flashed and was already before him, a fist shadow striking Zhu Pingxu's chest; the violent force blew away the clinging mist, revealing interwoven bronze mechanical bones.

Yet between Li Jun's fist and Zhu Pingxu's mechanical body, a layer of crimson radiance separated them, remaining unmoved no matter how the force struck.

"For temporary power, you gave up the possibility of breaking the sequence. Li Jun, your so-called Lone Martial Sequence is nothing but a twisted wrong path! A difference of one position means the difference between life and death!"

Zhu Pingxu looked down at the dwarfed figure that hadn't even reached his waist, and the mechanical heart in his chest suddenly vibrated, a crimson light instantly bursting forth.

Boom!

Rolling flames engulfed a hundred zhang radius, countless building debris instantly turned to ash under unimaginable heat, and the ground was covered with flowing lava.

Zhu Pingxu's mist dissipated completely, revealing a figure entwined with sentient-like fire dragons, like a fire-wielding deity. Li Jun was pushed backward by the explosive impact, plowing two zhang-high fire waves in the magma, the armor pieces on his crossed arms scorching hot, burning against his skin with piercing pain.

Li Jun stomped heavily, charged forward again, weaving through steps to dodge several fire dragons' attacks, and at the moment he closed in on Zhu Pingxu, he leaped up, twisted his body, and swung his leg, viciously lashing at the bronze mechanical bone that housed 'Suiren.'

Hum.

The crimson light of the domain again blocked Li Jun's attack. Zhu Pingxu, standing in an invincible position, had no qualms, letting the leg shadow hit his chest, then swung his two pillar-like arms down, hammering at Li Jun's waist.

Thud!

Li Jun tumbled through the city's ruins like a stone skimming water, then plunged his hands into the ground, tearing a furrow in the earth, and with a forceful pull, he rebounded and shot out again.

Black-red thunder roared incessantly, dragons and tigers howled in the crimson fire prison, fist sounds were violent, and the mechanical heart bellowed.

Two colossal beasts fought to the death, and the entire city of Jinling shattered and wailed beneath their feet.

After countless exchanges of blows, the finally exasperated Zhu Pingxu lit all the flame patterns on his right arm, then abruptly leaned down and punched the ground, instantly causing the accumulated lava ocean within a square mile to erupt with towering waves!

Caught off guard, Li Jun was knocked off balance by the flaming wave. Before he could recover, a massive shadow bore down on him from ahead.

"Die!"

Li Jun's eyes blazed with fury, his marrow-paining organs squeezed out another burst of vitality, his arms suddenly expanded one more circle, and he shot out his hands to seize Zhu Pingxu's wrists, actually pulling him into his embrace.

"Get him!"

Lord Ma let out a great roar, and the ink armor wrapped around Li Jun's arms emitted a teeth-grinding twisting sound.

Bang!

Li Jun's body shuddered violently, crimson blood spraying from the gaps in his armor, but he wasn't blasted away. Instead, he used this forceful impact to plummet downward, and the moment his feet touched the ground!

Lightning burst forth!

Li Jun's arm muscles bulged, actually forcing cracks in the ink armor, and with a crouch and twist, he executed a back throw, flipping the much larger Zhu Pingxu onto the ground.

Boom!

Lava splashed, the scorching heat turning the dark-golden ink armor red-hot, charred skin crumbling into black powder, and blood evaporated into mist blown high into the sky by the wind.

Lord Ma's hurried curses, Li Jun's low growls, and Zhu Pingxu's panicked, unexpected screams all mingled into one at this moment.

Li Jun knelt with one knee on Zhu Pingxu's abdomen, one hand pressing down on his head fiercely, and his clenched right fist emitted booming sounds as it continuously struck the crimson radiance.

Hum.

The Suiren mechanical heart connected to the surrounding sea of fire, trembling together, and streams of lava rose, coalescing into countless blades and spears, stabbing at Li Jun from all directions.

Clang!

Dense black arms extended from Li Jun's back, smashing the incoming lava weapons with fisted hands, erupting in sparks, but they were also simultaneously melted into dripping molten metal, perishing together.

Whether from the firelight or bloodshot eyes, Li Jun's eyes were now a field of crimson, oblivious to everything around him, his sight focused only on the heart hidden beneath the domain and buried within the mechanical bones!

Crack!

"How is this possible..."

A sudden, crisp sound like a mirror cracking made Zhu Pingxu's face change drastically.

His panicked gaze looked forward, and he saw that the two fingers reaching for his eye sockets had somehow pierced into the Suiren domain. Although the flesh was instantly burned to ash, the eerie white bones still thrust downward.

Squelch!

Two skeletal fingers plunged into Zhu Pingxu's eye sockets, forcibly extinguishing the blazing blue-red flames!

"Aaah..."

Zhu Pingxu screamed loudly, his fists continuously pounding against Li Jun's body.

"Hahaha..."

Li Jun let out a horrifying grin, his ferocious aura undiminished, all his power channeled into his arms, relying solely on his body strengthened by the Ten-Thousand-Mile Mountain to forcibly withstand Zhu Pingxu's fierce counterattack!

Thud! Thud! Thud!

The ground trembled, and countless building remains bounced with the loud sounds.

Zhu Pingxu, despite exerting all his strength, could not break free from Li Jun's restraint, and the growing fear in his genes further humiliated and angered him.

"Martial arts are not as good as weapons!"

Zhu Pingxu let out a roar, as if to dispel his cowardice and awaken his fighting spirit.

He then threw his head back to shake off the fingers from his eye socket, and with force, he bounced his upper body, even using his head to directly ram into Li Jun.

Bang!

Li Jun was struck as if by a heavy hammer, his nose bone collapsed, his helmet flew off, and blood covered his entire face.

In his crimson-tinged vision, Li Jun caught from the corner of his eye the twisted, splintered bronze mechanized bones on Zhu Pingxu's chest; the Suiren mechanical heart had already revealed a corner of red gold!

"You talk too much!"

Li Jun's left hand again clamped over Zhu Pingxu's mouth in a tiger's mouth grip, slamming his head heavily back to the ground.

The armor plates on his right hand extended, spitting a gleam of chilling light from his palm, and he drove it fiercely down into the gap in Zhu Pingxu's chest!

Clang!