Told You I Can Turn Back Time
Chapter 539 - 411 Immortal Decree

Chapter 539: Chapter 411 Immortal Decree

Outside the Great Zhou Capital.

Countless refugees were desperately waiting for food outside the city.

In rows of haphazardly constructed shanties, decaying corpses, human excrement, and various indescribable smells mingled together, creating an incredibly filthy and foul environment.

Under such circumstances, diseases rapidly spread from person to person, compounded by famine and crime, leading to a daily increase in the death toll.

Yet more refugees continued to flock to the capital in search of any slim chance of survival, such as the possibility of receiving porridge from some generous benefactors.

Considering the growing chaos outside the city, officials reported the situation to the Emperor of Great Zhou.

The Emperor in his early twenties glanced at the memorial presented to him and tossed it aside impatiently.

"A myriad of Immortals have perished, Lin Xing has emerged once again, the State Preceptor is conducting a heavenly sacrifice, the West Emperor has issued a summons, and the Ming Mountain Sect has witnessed anomalies from the Immortal Court..." he mused.

"At such a time, do they expect me to be concerned with these trifles?"

The Emperor sighed, "No one in the court understands my position."

As a high-ranking official of Great Zhou, he understood that the strong held all power in the current world.

The intentions of the strongest deeply influenced the course of the entire world.

To him, the fate of the countless weak was inconsequential compared to even a momentary shift in the mood of those potent beings.

However, after a moment’s thought, he frowned and said, "The person who submitted this memorial, he’s from the Wan Family, isn’t he?"

"Enough, there’s some truth to it. If we leave it be and it affects the State Preceptor’s sacrifice, that would be problematic."

"Order the Five Cities Military Department to clear out the refugees outside the city."

"Kill on the spot any rioters who refuse to leave."

"Ensure they clean up the corpses thoroughly."

After giving his orders indifferently, the Emperor’s thoughts returned to the State Preceptor.

The current State Preceptor of Great Zhou was none other than the Master of Taihe Sect from Kunlun Immortal Mountain.

Five years ago, he had come to the Capital, pointed at the reigning Emperor, causing his death, and then with closed eyes selected someone to ascend the throne as the new Emperor, who was the former eunuch.

A eunuch had become the Emperor, yet no one could voice their opposition in front of the Master of the Taihe Sect.

For those who did oppose were dead before they could express their dissent.

In fact, the earliest wave of dissenters had died even before the current eunuch was selected.

The Sect Leader’s initial selection was a dog.

But after the dog was beheaded for its incessant barking, it was the eunuch’s turn.

Since then, the Master of the Taihe Sect had been the true Supreme Emperor of Great Zhou.

Perhaps countless people opposed him, countless were duplicitous in their allegiance, and countless sought ways to resist... but he didn’t care.

Nations, powers, sects... they were all just tools in his hand, to be used if effective, replaced if not. Going against his own will, affecting his cultivation for the sake of a tool, that was truly unthinkable.

And the current Emperor of Great Zhou was acutely aware that his fortune and life were bound to the whims of the Sect Leader.

But ever since half a month ago, when the State Preceptor began presiding over the heavenly sacrifice, there had been no sign of him.

Although the Emperor sent people to inquire time and again, there were no updates, leaving him understandably uneasy.

Especially during these times when all the supreme experts of the world were encountering issues, it left him feeling completely adrift.

"Send someone again to check if the State Preceptor has concluded his ritual."

...

In the northern part of the Imperial Palace.

The Master of Taihe Sect, dressed in a magnificent purple Daoist robe, his white hair meticulously tied up, respectfully knelt before the altar, solemnly staring at the Token in front of him.

This was his sixteenth day kneeling there.

Yet, there had been no response from the Immortal Court.

He didn’t dare to leave lightly, even though this servile posture was extremely discomforting.

Because a delayed response to the Immortal Decree could bring severe punishment to the Kunlun disciples.

Besides, the Immortal Court governed the multitudes of all realms, shepherding countless beings and was inevitably busy with affairs, so they could not always respond to him, making his wait seem reasonable.

In fact, Kunlun’s records mentioned that waiting for a reply after establishing an altar for a heavenly sacrifice could take months or even years.

Moreover, for unknown reasons, the Immortal Court had not responded to them over the past hundred years.

The Master of Taihe Sect would not have constructed the altar and attempted to contact the Immortal Court had they not issued an Immortal Decree.

Considering the decree he received, the Sect Leader’s eyes flickered with worry.

"The worlds are changing dramatically, and the spirit channels are surging; evil energy is rampant within these two realms."

"The Immortal Court still intends to operate Kunlun, continuing to transmit evil energy... If this continues, it’s feared this mortal realm will soon be devoid of vitality."

Even as a powerful being attuned to evil spirits, the Master knew that if the evil energy grew denser, it would severely affect even someone as strong as him. Soon, the two realms would be filled with nothing but madmen and beasts.

So, upon learning the Immortal Court would continue to lower evil energy, he immediately reported, inquiring about the matter of ascension.

"Both realms are already doomed. The only solution now is to ascend to the Immortal Court and secure a position to avoid becoming an unaffiliated Immortal, prey to others..."

As the Master of Taihe Sect, he was deeply privy to many secrets of Kunlun and the Immortal Court.

The fourth line of transmission passed down through Taihe Sect, the True Martial Demon Cleansing, was a true ascension lineage, eligible for ascension to the Immortal Court.

Just then, the Token on the altar trembled slightly, followed by a surge of Immortal Essence.

The Sect Leader immediately looked over, and saw a line of text appear.

Though he couldn’t recognize the Immortal script, information rippled through his mind, converting the Immortal text into words he could understand.

"This recent descent of foul qi is to alleviate the hardships of all realms, seeking the blessing of the myriad beings."

"Thou must remember, do not ruin the grand scheme of all realms for the sake of this one."

"Assist the Ming Mountain lineage in operating Kunlun..."

The Master of Taihe Sect quickly scanned the contents, and when he saw the part about his own ascension, as well as the final words "granted," he let out a heavy sigh of relief.

With this, no matter what the future held for this realm, nothing would hinder his progress.

Thus, the entire Great Zhou Imperial Palace soon bustled with activity due to the Master of Taihe Sect’s emergence from seclusion.

Listening to the changes that had taken place in the world during his time in seclusion, the Master of Taihe Sect was slightly surprised.

"The Immortal of Ten Thousand Paths actually died at the hands of Lin Xing?"

Thinking of Lin Xing, he couldn’t help but slightly furrow his brow.

Six years ago, to prepare for the great changes in the world, he had deliberately avoided this person who was then known as the number one in the world.

This left the Master of Taihe Sect with a lingering discomfort in his heart.

The Emperor of Great Zhou quickly said, "State Preceptor, this Lin Xing has been in hiding for six years, and now that he has emerged, I fear he brings no good intentions."

Great Zhou, as the ruler of the northern part of the Central Plains, also had many spirit caves connected with the northern region of Xia Country.

However, the Master of Taihe Sect shook his head, unconcerned, and said, "The Immortal of Ten Thousand Paths, merely a descendant of a discarded Kunlun lineage, that fourth legacy from the Heavenly King only shone for a few years previously, but now it’s just a name with no substance. It wouldn’t be difficult for me to defeat him."

"As for this Lin Xing, if he hides in Xia Country, then there’s no need to bother with him."

The Emperor of Great Zhou asked, "What if he demands the spirit caves on behalf of Xia Country?"

The Master of Taihe Sect was entirely unconcerned with the other’s worry and casually said, "Then just give them to him."

At this moment, his heart was filled with thoughts of ascension; of course, he had no interest in dealing with someone like Lin Xing, especially when the other couldn’t ascend to the Immortal Court like he could. Their future deaths and the country’s destruction were merely a matter of time.

Reflecting on the content of the token, he thought to himself, "If this Lin Xing truly interferes with the Immortal Court’s grand affairs, I fear it won’t be up to me to act."

The Master of Taihe Sect recalled the records in the sect, which mentioned that each time there was a movement in Kunlun, the Ming Mountain Sect had the responsibility of operation, and all Kunlun disciples were obligated to assist vigorously; moreover, the inheritance within the Ming Mountain Sect would be fiercely elevated by the Immortal Court.

He had been doubtful about this.

Now, from the content of the token, he realized that the Immortal Court, in order to ensure the Ming Mountain Sect could successfully operate Kunlun, had already revised the inheritance of the Ming Mountain Sect, giving it the strongest combat power among the four legacies. It enabled them to utilize the Kunlun Power and possess the ability to alter time and invert yin and yang, ensuring that no one in the lower realms could oppose them.

He sighed in his heart, "Underneath the Immortal Court, the so-called ultimate powerhouses of this world are nothing but ants, why should one care?"

...

East Sea Prefecture City.

Inside the Presidential Mansion, Fan Mingxiu was packing his belongings.

He had rushed back as soon as he confirmed the news of the President’s death.

As a senior official in the Presidential Mansion, he knew all too well how quickly the New Country would crumble without the President.

So, he rushed back to the New Country at the earliest opportunity, hoping to gather forces and seize resources before chaos ensued.

But the chaos came faster and more fiercely than he had anticipated.

Everywhere there were fights, everywhere there were madmen seeking to climb over others to rise to the top.

Even it wasn’t just the current Prefecture City – since the Immortal Gates on the other side in Xia Country had various rapid communication channels, and each of New Country’s major cities had Immortal Gates connected to Xia Country.

As they descended into chaos, the news of the President’s death had already spread throughout the New Country, and turmoil was spreading across the entire nation.

Fan Mingxiu estimated that it wouldn’t be long before the south reverted to being riddled with warlords as in the past, and the nation, which had been forcefully unified by the President’s absolute martial power, was on the verge of falling apart.

As for the Great Zhou Dynasty in the north, and Xia Country on the other side of the Immortal Gates, he believed they would not let this opportunity slip by and would surely intervene.

But Fan Mingxiu understood that although this was a crisis, it was also an opportunity.

The supreme powerhouses could devour him, but he could also target those weaker than himself.

He decided that he would need to fight above his level in every battle, only engaging those who were one realm below him.

Therefore, he had already made up his mind to leave the Prefecture City in a few days to find a less intense environment to start his journey of overpowering the weak.

"This is an era of great strife; it’s either eat or be eaten."

"Let it be a matter of capability, then."

No longer obliged to serve the President, Fan Mingxiu felt a sudden sense of freedom, as if the vast sea were open for him to soar.

Just then, a voice arose behind him, "Fan Mingxiu, where do you think you’re going?"

Fan Mingxiu swiftly turned around, "Wang Dong?"

The man before him was none other than the Vice President of the New Country, Wang Dong. He grinned, his eyes flashing with a brutal murderous intent, "Fan Mingxiu, the death of the Immortal of Ten Thousand Paths has reminded me of a lesson once again, which is that one should always battle those weaker than themselves."

"Preferably a great realm weaker."

"For instance, I could strike at you at will without any danger, don’t you agree?"

At a tense moment when both men were on the edge of confrontation,

a chilly voice resounded as if from beyond the heavens, echoing back and forth high above the Prefecture City.

"Kneel, and you shall not die."

In the next instant, Fan Mingxiu sensed a series of sharp Sword Intents slowly sweeping forward, nearly filling every space above one meter.

Watching as the door, walls, ceiling, tables, chairs... everything was slashed into smithereens by these invisible slashes, he realized he was left with only one choice.

Thump!

Fan Mingxiu crashed ruthlessly to the ground, feeling the row upon row of sharp presences sweeping over him.

Before him, Wang Dong, just recently conversing with him, also knelt on the ground, his face ashen as he pressed his head hard against the ground, terrified that any part of his body might rise above that lethal line.

And when Fan Mingxiu looked around him, amidst the fragments filling the sky, people everywhere, either kneeling or crawling, were under that one-meter line.