Chapter 557 - 18: The Elder Sages of Great Qin Arrive, the Grand Curtain Is Raised

[In the third year of the Young Emperor’s reign, Dong Zhuo was jointly attacked by Cao Cao, Yuan Shao, Sun Jian, and Liu Bei at Luoyang. The battle shook the heavens, and the vast lands south of Luoyang City were turned to scorched earth.]

[Leaning on his saber with his one remaining arm, Dong Zhuo let out a long sigh. After three ragged breaths, his body went rigid in death amidst the ruined landscape outside Luoyang City.]

[On the same day, after beheading the Young Emperor, Lü Bu fled through Tongguan Pass with his former subordinates from Xiliang.]

[In the same year, the new emperor, Liu Xie, ascended the throne.]

[In the first year of Emperor Xian’s reign, the Emperor was greatly pleased. He appointed Sun Jian as Grand Commandant, one of the Three Dukes, in charge of the armed forces; Yuan Shao as Situ, one of the Three Dukes, in charge of education and moral transformation; and Cao Cao as Minister of Supervision, one of the Three Dukes, in charge of public works.]

[He enfeoffed his kinsman from the Imperial Family, Liu Bei, as King Xinghan, awarding him a state, granting him six armies, and bestowing upon him the nine imperial gifts.]

[In the second year of Emperor Xian’s reign, the Emperor established the White Lotus, Celestial Master, and Taiping sects as the three state religions.]

[In the Third Year of Emperor Xian, Grand Commandant Sun Jian was also named King Wu, Situ Yuan Shao was also named King of Hebei, and Minister of Supervision Cao Cao was also named King Wei, concurrently serving as Prime Minister.]

.........

「Luoyang, the Imperial Palace.」

"So that’s how it is."

Lu Xuan nodded slightly, a faint smile on his face. He had finally figured out the source of his own Transcendent Traits.

The Creation Jade Disc and having achieved the Daluo realm a second time were contributing factors, but they were more like catalysts.

The true Source was the title of Emperor Earth Deity, which he hadn’t paid much attention to in a long time.

Or rather, it was the Transcendent Traits contained within the Virtue that Wa Huang had abandoned.

’Unlike Enlightened Ones, who can consolidate parts of the future—who, without interference from other Enlightened Ones, can narrow infinite future possibilities down to a few favorable outcomes for themselves.’

’By occupying a part of the future, I can step directly into one of its possibilities, guide it to manifest in the present, and even...’

Beside him, the Little Daoist Child yawned.

"Master, what are you muttering about?"

Wearing the Azure Heaven Crown, Lu Xuan, who had taken on the appearance of Hongjun Daoist, smiled and said,

"It’s nothing. Everything is in place. The curtain is about to rise on the Divine Enthronement of the Late Han Dynasty."

"Divine Enthronement?" The Little Daoist Child was confused, but Lu Xuan didn’t explain. He simply gave an order.

"Have Cao Mengde come see me."

As he spoke, he gently reached into a possible future. His hand blotted out the sky as he seized a great tide of Years!

This great tide originated from seven great lamps in a possible future, and it had swept up living beings from the past.

And now, as those past beings bobbed in the tide of Years, Lu Xuan plucked them out one by one!

VMMMM!!

Along with the faint sound of splashing waves, a phantasmal vision of the future manifested in the Current World.

The great tide that should have gone to the Shu Capital of the future instead descended here and now!

「Meanwhile, in the Shu Capital.」

King Xinghan, Liu Bei, walked out of his Prince’s Mansion. He looked up at the grand spectacle in the sky with a grave expression and exclaimed in astonishment,

"What is..."

A great tide, barely visible, spanned the clouds. Figures bobbed within it before falling one by one to the ground!

Zhang Daoling stood beside Liu Bei, secretly gathering his power as he stared gravely at the beings who had appeared from thin air, a jolt of alarm in his heart.

Most of these beings had extraordinary auras. The weakest among them was a Great Grade Immortal, with no shortage of those at the Immortal Level, and even some who were beyond it!

Liu Bei frowned and finally called out,

"Who are you, and from where do you come?"

Having landed on the ground, Yan Huang, the Old Celestial Master, Nezha, Yang Jian, and the others looked around vigilantly. Their gazes finally settled on the man in the King’s Robe and the middle-aged Daoist beside him.

"Eh?"

Yan Huang was puzzled. The middle-aged Daoist and the man in the King’s Robe both seemed to be at the Immortal Level, which was not particularly surprising. But the man in the King’s Robe... did he also have an incredibly profound destiny clinging to him?

Everyone was disoriented. A moment ago, they were fighting against the heavens, but where were they now?

Looking around, they saw no sign of the brilliant light from the three hundred and sixty-five Heaven-Reaching Platforms!

’How strange, how very strange...,’

After a moment of deliberation, Yan Huang stepped forward and asked with a frown,

"What is this place, and what year is it?"

’What year is it...?’

Liu Bei and Zhang Daoling exchanged bewildered glances. Not far away, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei had heard the commotion and rushed over, one wielding the Cyan Dragon Crescent Blade and the other the Eight Zhang Serpent Spear, both with grave expressions.

It was no wonder they reacted this way. A group of strangers of unknown origin had suddenly appeared in the Han Prince’s Mansion, and each one possessed an extraordinary aura, with several at the Immortal Level. How could they not be alarmed?

"Halt! What is your purpose for trespassing in the Xinghan Prince’s Mansion?"

Zhang Fei strode forward with a powerful gait as a colossal, pitch-black Dharma Aspect rose behind him, churning the clouds and darkening the sky!

"Xinghan Prince’s Mansion?"

This only deepened the group’s confusion. Even Yang Jian and Nezha frowned. Yang Jian kept glancing toward the Celestial Vault, his Divine Eye piercing the highest heavens to take in the sight of the Celestial Court.

The Celestial Court was still the Celestial Court. He couldn’t see clearly into Lingxiao Hall, but the other palaces and pavilions seemed unchanged. It was just...

Where was the Four Directions Celestial Court?

Why had it completely vanished??

A jolt of shock went through Yang Jian.

Just then, Liu Bei held up a hand to stop the furiously glaring Zhang Fei. He stared at the group before him and said in a heavy voice,

"The current year is the Third Year of Emperor Xian. This is the Yizhou Shu Capital, within my Xinghan Prince’s Mansion. I am the King Xinghan, a title bestowed upon me by His Majesty the Emperor."

’The Third Year of Emperor Xian?’

’Xinghan Prince’s Mansion?’

The group remained dumbfounded. However, a thought struck Wang Zhiyao, who was comparatively well-versed in Ancient History.

She asked softly,

"Emperor Xian... the Shu Capital... Are you, by chance, Liu Bei, also known as Liu Xuande?"

"I am."

A look of understanding dawned on everyone’s faces. In their own time, despite a major gap in historical records, the documents regarding the Three Kingdoms era were still relatively detailed.

One ancient text in particular, known as *Romance of the Three Kingdoms*, had survived in a nearly perfect state, with very little of it lost.

As a result, they were all quite clear on the history of this period...

"The Three Kingdoms... the Three Kingdoms..."

A look of relief appeared on Yan Huang’s face, and he nodded slightly.

"Then you two must be Guan Yu, styled Guan Yunchang, and Zhang Fei, styled Zhang Yide? And this Daoist... is he Zhuge Kongming?"

Aside from Immortal Gods like Yang Erlang, Zhu Wuneng, and Nezha,

looks of astonishment appeared on everyone else’s faces.

’Zhuge Kongming...’

Even in the Current World, the Zhuge Family was still one of the greatest clans in the land, and the name of the Shu Han Prime Minister was a household name!

Excitement shone in the eyes of Lu Chongtong and Chen Ye. ’The legendary Zhuge Prime Minister!!’

However.

Liu Bei frowned and gave a slight nod.

"You are correct about their names, but... how do you know of my Uncle Zhong?"

A dangerous glint appeared in his eyes. He had acknowledged his Uncle Zhong in his youth, and they had been separated for fifteen years. Uncle Zhong, Zhuge, had never appeared before the world in all that time.

So how did these strangers of unknown origin know of him??

Yan Huang was taken aback.

"Uncle Zhong?"

He didn’t overthink it, simply assuming it was a minor error in the historical records. He immediately smiled and said,

"Everyone knows the great name of Zhuge Kongming. To finally meet him today, it is truly..."

"I am not Zhuge."

Zhang Daoling frowned, gazing at the stunned group, and stated flatly,

"I am Zhang Daoling of Dragon Tiger Mountain."

"Oh, so it’s Daoist Zhang... Huh??"

Yan Huang froze. Beside him, the Old Celestial Master, who had been stroking his long beard with a smile, staggered and nearly fell. ’Who?’

’Dragon Tiger Mountain... Zhang Daoling??’

Everyone turned in unison to stare at the Old Celestial Master. Yan Huang’s smile stiffened. He had a bad feeling. How was this different from the historical records?

He asked tentatively,

"Since you’ve already entered Shu, does that mean Cao Mengde has taken the Han Celestial Son hostage? And is the one in charge of the Jiangdong region Sun Quan?"

These words left Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and the others completely stunned.

Liu Bei’s brows knitted together tightly. Before he could speak, Zhang Fei stamped his foot and bellowed,

"Halt! How dare you slander my Second Brother?!"

His roar was like thunder, the force of it causing the thick clouds in the Celestial Vault to roll back and disperse, revealing the brilliant Great Sun!

Yan Huang frowned, looking puzzled.

"You must have misheard, sir. When did I slander General Guan?"

Zhang Fei twirled his Eight Zhang Serpent Spear and roared again,

"My Second Brother is Cao Cao! Who does not praise his unwavering loyalty and righteousness? Yet you slander him by claiming he holds the Celestial Son hostage! What is your motive?!"

Liu Bei’s face was also grim.

"I demand an explanation. Why are you spreading rumors about my Second Brother? If you don’t give me one, I will not let this matter rest, even if some of you are far stronger than we are!"

He spoke with utter confidence. The Profound Yellow Emperor himself was meditating on a nearby mountain peak!

But this left Yan Huang, the Old Celestial Master, and the others doubly confused.

Huh??

Second Brother... Cao Cao??

After a long, stunned silence, Yan Huang managed to blurt out,

"Are you... the Four Sworn Brothers of the Peach Garden??"

Liu Bei’s King’s Robe fluttered in the wind. His face was grave as he declared,

"There are six of us sworn brothers: Eldest Brother Yuan Shao, Second Brother Cao Cao, Third Brother Sun Jian, myself, Fifth Brother Guan Yu, and Sixth Brother Zhang Fei.

Which of us is not a loyal subject of the Han Dynasty? Which of us does not serve the Han with all his heart? You may insult me, sir, but you will not insult my brothers!"

The Human Dao Trend swirled above Liu Bei’s head, pressing down on the visitors.

At this, even Yang Jian and the other two Immortals, who had been watching the spectacle unfold, were utterly baffled.

Six... brothers??

Just as everyone stood there in bewilderment,

the Old Celestial Master suddenly clapped his hands in a moment of epiphany.

"I understand! Our actions during the Late Qin Dynasty and the Early Han may have had a tremendous impact on this era, so much so that... the course of history has been altered!"

Yan Huang also had a flash of insight. Wishing to test their theory, he stepped forward and said,

"My name is Yan Huang. May I ask you, King Xinghan, does my name appear in your history books?"

’Yan Huang??’

Liu Bei and his three companions froze. That name was one they knew all too well!

Zhang Daoling frowned and asked with a solemn air,

"Are you Yan Huang, the Grand Qin Prime Minister, the second Heaven-Fighting General personally appointed by Grand Ancestor and Emperor Wu?"

"I am."

Yan Huang nodded. Spreading his hand, he materialized both the Great Qin Ministerial Seal and the Great Han General’s Seal!

Guan Yu and Zhang Fei’s eyes widened in shock.

Liu Bei was stunned for a moment, then slapped his forehead as he recalled the historical records and the stories passed down by his ancestors.

During the second war against the heavens, many heroes were swept away by a great tide and vanished without a trace!

Immediately,

Liu Bei performed a deep, formal bow, his breath coming in ragged bursts.

"Then this man with the double-pupiled eyes... could he be Lu Chongtong, General Lu?"

A brilliant smile bloomed on Lu Chongtong’s face.

"That’s me!"

Zhang Daoling also wore a look of shock as he stared at the Old Celestial Master.

"Then are you the Great Qin State Preceptor who hailed from Dragon Tiger Mountain??"

The Old Celestial Master nodded dumbly. When he saw Zhang Daoling about to bow to him, he jumped in fright, quickly sidestepping and returning the bow with trepidation.

"Please, don’t! A bow from you... I’m afraid I’d be struck dead by heavenly lightning!"

Question marks seemed to pop up over Zhang Daoling’s head.

Everyone began to murmur amongst themselves. As Liu Bei and his men confirmed the identities of these sudden arrivals one by one, their hearts pounded in their chests.

Every single one of them was an Elder Sage of the Great Han, an Elder Sage of the Great Qin!!

Lu Chongtong, Wang Zhiyao, and the others found the situation surreal. They had become Elder Sages of history, revered by famous historical figures they had only read about!

Soon, the Xinghan Prince’s Mansion was buzzing with excitement. Liu Bei ordered a grand banquet to welcome the arrival of the Elder Sages.

And the guests, in turn, soon learned what had happened after they vanished.

"Xiaoshu... is dead?" Chen Ye’s eyes grew red.

"Brother Li was beheaded by the Immortal Gods, too?" Yan Huang silently lowered his head.

"That kid, Zhang Huatian..." Wang Zhiyao covered her face, and Zhang Jifeng was rendered speechless.

The atmosphere grew heavy.

After a long silence, Yang Jian took a deep breath, downed a cup of wine, and asked solemnly,

"What happened to the Celestial Court after we were gone? Who rules it now?"

"They say the Jade Emperor is the supreme ruler, but in reality, it is governed jointly by the Nine Venerable Ones!" Liu Bei replied gravely, then listed the names of the Nine Venerable Ones.

"Li Changgeng? Wen Zhong?" Yang Jian and the other two Immortals were stunned. They then learned from Liu Bei that the Profound Yellow Emperor had struck the Four Extremes, splitting the Immortals’ domain in two!

"He... succeeded!" Wang Zhiyao was visibly moved. Yang Erlang, Nezha, and Zhu Wuneng were overcome with joyful surprise.

Others might not have known, but they knew the Profound Yellow Emperor’s true identity!

’Excellent...’

Yang Jian was about to ask another question when a servant rushed in.

"Terrible news! Terrible news!"

The messenger was panting, so out of breath he could barely speak.

"A message from the central plains! The King of Hebei, Yuan Shao, and King Wu, Sun Jian... have just declared themselves emperors!"

"What?!"

Liu Bei shot to his feet, his mind reeling.