The Battle in Journey to the West
Chapter 344 - 305: Falling into the Trap of the Defiant Heavenly Emperor

Chapter 344: Chapter 305: Falling into the Trap of the Defiant Heavenly Emperor

Chi Songzi was cultivating in Shennong’s Secret Realm when suddenly he opened his eyes and let out a long howl that shook the Eight Desolates; he had achieved the status of a Semi-Saint.

Since the beginning of heaven and earth, he had been practicing the orthodox teachings of the Mystic Sect, and now, having reached Semi-Saint, he understood the ways of heaven and humanity, above and below, with nowhere he could not go.

"I will slay Huang Taiji to extend the reign of the Great Ming Dynasty and prevent the Qing Dynasty from entering the pass! Exterminate the entire Aisin Gioro clan," Chi Songzi said solemnly after a moment of calculation.

Fuxi shielded their plot against the celestial fates with Bagua, so Chi Songzi’s rebellious words went undetected by the Heavenly Dao.

Fuxi said, "If you go to slay Huang Taiji, this act would defy the heavens and would not be tolerated by the Heavenly Dao!"

But Chi Songzi retorted, "With the Qing entering the pass, people will suffer, national destiny will crumble, and the common folk will fall into disaster! As a right-hand minister from ancient times, I cannot stand idly by. In ancient times, I controlled the timing and advantages of nature, directing the seasons and deeply beloved by the people! Though it is no longer the era of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors, the Southern Toad Continent remains the foundation of the Human Path. How could I possibly watch and do nothing? Since the Qing’s entry to the pass would lead to the collapse of national destiny and degradation of the Human Path, intervention is a must! If I cannot kill the Son of Heaven’s Mandate who ushers in the Age of Dharma Decline, then I will kill Huang Taiji and stop this Chapter of history!"

Chi Songzi had contemplated killing the Son of Heaven’s Mandate last time but was warned by the will of heaven, so now he dared not entertain such thoughts; however, he was determined to kill Huang Taiji.

Chi Songzi, as an ancient right-hand minister, had ensured the wellbeing and safety of the people of the Southern Toad Continent. Now, witnessing the ruin of national destiny and the Human Path falling into the hands of barbarians, how could he remain indifferent? Even if it meant sacrificing all his cultivation, he was resolved to prevent the Qing invasion—this was inevitable!

After the Qing sealed off the nation, the barbarians from Yingzhou would invade, forcing the Qing to cede land in exchange for peace; then various barbarian nations would enter and occupy different regions, further causing chaos in national destiny. Eventually, the Son of Heaven’s Mandate would integrate the Human Path and usher in the Age of Dharma Decline. However, after that, even more treacherous and corrupt officials would dominate the kingdom, causing immense suffering among the people, who would be caught between fire and water.

Fuxi and others saw it as their duty to uphold the Human Path, and they naturally did not wish to see it crumble. But now the course of the Heavenly Dao was irreversible, and the great trend was unstoppable.

Now that Nurhaci had died and Yuan Chonghuan, the last of the Ming Dynasty’s national destiny, had also perished, Emperor Chongzhen, although diligent, was unable to save the situation; after all, the Ming Dynasty’s national destiny was thoroughly in shambles, riddled with holes beyond repair, ruined by successive emperors of the Zhu family. Even if Emperor Taizong of Tang and Emperor Wu of Han were resurrected, they would not be able to turn things around.

The barbarians infiltrating the Central Plains would destroy the national destiny, causing the Human Path to disintegrate... By then, even if they had overcome the Various Heavens, the Human Path would be completely destroyed, with Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism becoming despised, and even Confucius’s statue thrown out and smashed outside the Confucian temples, indicating the extent of the Human Path’s decay.

"Sacrifice for justice! I’ve cultivated for a lifetime, for the nation and for the people. Now that the national destiny is about to fall, how can I not act to save it? Kill, kill! Exterminate the entire Aisin Gioro lineage to extend the reign of Great Ming and preserve the Human Path!" Chi Songzi declared.

If it wasn’t for the appearance of the Great Saint Wang Yangming during the Ming Dynasty, things would have already deteriorated even more. The Ming emperors were on the whole quite absurd, especially Emperor Zhengde. Then came Emperor Jiajing, who was obsessed with cultivation and neglected state affairs, while Yan Song plunged the dynasty into utter corruption and discontent. Even though there were numerous capable ministers trying to salvage the situation, they were unable to save the crumbling Great Ming Dynasty.

The corruption of the state began during the Song Dynasty; while Zhu Chongba of the Ming Dynasty rigorously fought against it, it had no effect, and corrupt officials remained innumerable. Afterward, during the Qing Dynasty and beyond, the situation became even more terrifying... From Zhu Zhang in the south to Kong in the north, even the statue of Confucius would be smashed. It was clear to what extent the Human Path had collapsed! At that time, countless Buddhist Temples and Taoist temples would be destroyed, and Huaxia culture would be completely extinguished, replaced by nothing more than party culture.

Fuxi said, "As Heavenly Emperor, I naturally must consider the Human Path. Chi Songzi, your intentions comfort my heart! However, now that the Nine Heavens have returned and are monitoring the world, your act of killing Huang Taiji would not be tolerated by the Heavenly Dao and would lead to execution by the Nine Heavens! With the Bagua Secret Technique, I will shield you from the heavenly fates. Once you have slain Huang Taiji, the Nine Heavens will only then detect it, and ultimately, both you and I cannot escape the reckoning of the Heavenly Dao! After that, we can only leave it to fate."

Chi Songzi laughed, "I am not acting out of foolhardy bravery, but for the sake of our national destiny. I will do my part for it! All I ask for is a clear conscience!"

Fuxi nodded, "Very well! We shall bear this great cause and effect together! I will use the Bagua Secret Technique to shield you from the celestial fates, and you go to slay Huang Taiji! In all the world, only I can shield one from the Nine Heavens!"

Chi Songzi stated, "It is not only Huang Taiji, but the entire Aisin Gioro clan must be eradicated as well! Otherwise, my heart cannot rest."

Fuxi said, "The Qing’s entry into the Central Plains is the key point in the great calamity of heaven and earth, which is about to descend. Be wary of the Buddhist sect intervening."

Chi Songzi nodded and said, "Very well! Then I shall trouble the Heavenly Emperor to strengthen me with the Bagua Secret Technique and shield the celestial fates so that I may go to the Liaodong region and slay Huang Taiji."

Inside the Ming Dynasty, peasant uprisings kept rebelling, and outside, Hou Jin—which would later become the Qing Dynasty—closely eyed them with predatory ambition. Amidst these internal and external troubles, Emperor Chongzhen was helpless; even if the Emperor of Qin who swept the Six Harmonies were to return, he could only stamp his feet in frustration.

Suddenly, Fuxi activated his Divine Skills, bringing forth a Bagua, which he then imbued into Chi Songzi’s chest. The Bagua spun and entered his body, merging with his heart as one. Chi Songzi immediately felt a mysterious power growing within him, severing his connection with the Heavenly Dao. He could no longer utilize the Divine Skills of the Nine Heavens Thunder Movement, but his Semi-Saint cultivation was enough to sweep through all contempts!