Chapter 189: Assessment

Chapter 189: The Assessment

Indeed, the Four Symbols should carry this original meaning, and all the world shares this understanding.

Yet the world offers sacrifices to imagined immortals and buddhas, to deities enshrined by kings, but scarcely has anyone been seen worshipping or paying homage to the Four Symbols.

They are too ethereal, too abstract.

It is said that the Supreme Ultimate gave birth to the Two Principles, and the Two Principles gave birth to the Four Symbols, representing the evolution of the world—from the beginning to the cognition of yin-yang contradictions, then to the worldview cornerstone of the four directions and four seasons… But no one would worship the Supreme Ultimate or the Two Principles, just as no one would worship the Four Symbols.

The Four Symbols are slightly better off; at least they have four divine beasts manifested for people to bow to, and some still regard them as gods. The Supreme Ultimate and the Two Principles, however, have become utterly conceptual, amounting to nothing at all.

Even the Four Symbols Sect itself does not treat the worship of the Four Symbols as this kind of primordial world concept.

In their eyes, they are merely four powerful gods, representing the incarnation of the stars in the night sky, the rulers of the heavens.

Thus, as Wan Dongliu once said, if the Four Symbols Sect had a leader, it would be the Night Emperor… but he never said it was the Supreme Ultimate or the Two Principles.

In essence, it is similar to the Blood God Sect—still merely a faith in dominion derived from the worship of power, not the religious cognition of an "omnipotent god" or "creator of humanity." Only, since it has become a sect, its doctrines naturally incorporate creation myths. The lower ranks might believe, but the leaders like Zhuque may not take it to heart. Otherwise, how would they dare to call themselves Zhuque? Would that not be blasphemy?

It is nothing more than likening themselves to incarnations of stars or spokespersons of the gods, so that those beneath them might kneel before her…

Of course, this is not to say the faith is false. The faith is real and fervent. Zhuque, Xuanwu, and even Xia Chichi are sincerely devout, believing that in the last era, there must have been a deity of the night sky. They await and call for its return, to lead people out of this well-like land and into the boundless heavens.

Whether one believes or not is easy to tell. No matter how evasive Xia Chichi might be about her "former lover" relationship, her faith in the Four Symbols is beyond question. Zhuque thus turns a blind eye, not being overly harsh about her romantic affairs, hoping that time will mend things.

This is the yearning of the powerful in this era, constrained by their strength, for "ascending to the heavens." Based on the different inheritances they have received, they have developed into various sects—be it the Blood God, Maitreya, or the Four Symbols—each led by the private desires of their leaders, steering toward different paths.

Though the doctrines of the Four Symbols are neither extreme nor malicious, they ultimately hold little regard for the current human world, nor for ordinary people. They lack the virtues of Buddhism or Taoism, which encourage people to be good at home and facilitate governance. Instead, they are all highly energetic troublemakers, making it no surprise that they are considered a demonic sect.

But this man before her was amusing, wearing a pained expression as if to say, "The Four Symbols have such high standards—how did you turn something so fine into a demonic sect?"

I am not as pained as you are.

Zhuque found it intriguing and deliberately asked again, "Do you believe in gods?"

Zhao Changhe said, "That depends on the definition of a god."

"Oh?"

"If it refers to an extremely powerful being with great divine abilities beyond my imagination, then yes, I believe. The Chaos Chronicle is there, and the relics of the last era prove it—why wouldn't I believe? But if it means I was molded from clay or created from a rib, that wind, rain, thunder, lightning, blessings, and marriages are governed by someone, and that life, death, and fate are predetermined—then I'll just listen and let it be."

Having said this, Zhao Changhe roughly understood what "Yihuo Snake" meant by asking these questions, and said, "Are you testing me? It's hard for me to have any sectarian faith; our thoughts differ. But since you've finally thought of this, I'm quite relieved. I never intended to oppose the Four Symbols Sect, you know? Logically, we have some affinity. Back then, it was your Zhuque Venerable who looked down on me. If she had brought me into the Four Symbols Sect from the start, wouldn't that have been the end of it? Instead, you all wanted to kill me. When did I ever offend the Four Symbols Sect?"

In truth, he wouldn't have dared to join the Four Symbols Sect back then. The reason Xia Chichi gave him Xia Longyuan's jade pendant was precisely because she feared it would be inconvenient to carry it into the sect—they were in conflict. Since he had accepted Xia Longyuan's legacy, he naturally dared not enter the Four Symbols Sect.

But now, as he said this, Zhuque could only concede. At that time, she indeed hadn't taken this older, disloyal youth seriously. Otherwise, she would have brought him into the Four Symbols Sect from the start, not left him in the Blood God Sect.

Zhuque coughed lightly twice. "The Venerable sees far and wide and has her own considerations. What would a mere Xuan Guan fifth-rank youngster like you understand?"

Zhao Changhe said lazily, "Seeing far and wide may not be the case, but she might be quite beautiful, that's possible."

Zhuque: "?"

Zhao Changhe continued, "So now she's sent you to test me? What position does she plan to give me? How can this be—no benefits in sight, yet a test first, and with such a condescending attitude, as if you're some prized commodity. As if I'm begging to join the sect? By the way, isn't she afraid I'll get involved with Chichi? Does she still dare to let me join? Unless she herself… Ah, forget it. Don't mind me—I'm a rough man with a loose tongue."

Zhuque held back for a long time before saying, "I don't know what the Venerable is thinking. I'm just here to ask you a few questions, and then I'll leave. If you want to be stubborn, you don't have to answer. What does it have to do with me? Why take it out on me?"

Zhao Changhe said, "So what else do you want to ask? Go ahead. Such trivial questions—why would I stubbornly refuse to answer? What's the big deal?"

Zhuque stared intently into his eyes and asked word by word, "What is your purpose in practicing martial arts?"

"In the short term, to ensure no one can bully me, to do what I want, and to have the right to intervene when I see injustice."

"And in the long term?"

"To uncover the truth of the era, to glimpse the power of gods and buddhas, to break the limits of this world, and to go where I ought to go."

A sharp light suddenly burst from Zhuque's eyes.

At that moment, from the direction of the main hall of the Taiyi Sect, the sound of energy clashes and shouts erupted. The Taiyi Sect was filled with the clamor of battle, as if an ambush had sprung forth, clashing with the invading enemy.

Gui Chen's aged voice drifted leisurely: "I wondered who was so persistent, insisting on forcing their way in even though I said I was prepared… So it's the barbarians."

Zhuque quickly understood.

No matter how many people had the same idea as her, they had to admit that such a crude method would have uncertain effects in inciting conflict between the court and the Wang family. If things went smoothly, it might be worth doing, but since the other side was prepared, there was no need to force it—unless they were left with no other choice.

Only the barbarians would have even crazier ideas than them, insisting on a hard push… Of course, the barbarians might not have received Gui Chen's outward hints at all.

Many of the Yanmen troops were from the Wang family. If the Wang family were to change, the battle at Yanmen would be decided. The barbarians were the ones who most wanted the Wang family to change.

Just then, Zhao Changhe, who had been sitting calmly chatting with her, suddenly stood up and grabbed his blade to head out.

Zhuque instinctively asked, "What are you doing? The barbarians must have sent a strongman from the Earth Ranking. Are you going to your death?"

Zhao Changhe turned back to look at her strangely. "Gui Chen is also on the Earth Ranking, and he has the home advantage with preparations. The enemy may not necessarily have the upper hand. Adding one more person's strength adds one more chip. Should I just stand by and watch? If you, as Yihuo Snake, have considerable cultivation, don't tell me you'll sit idly by while the barbarians run rampant. That would make me think less of your Four Symbols Sect."

"…" Zhuque was filled with ellipses.

I was originally planning to kill Gui Chen. And now, after all this, I've come to protect him?