All of them in the study felt their hearts skip a beat.
“Replicate? Could it be the same as Your Reverence’s Go Dao ritual array?” Chen Tianshan asked with a frown.
Gu Hai shook his head. “The cloud beasts we manifest with the ritual array are different from this. Every expert requires boundless spirit stones to form. It would be impossible to form something like the Six Paths Veritable Lord’s metal deity body.”
“If he could replicate one Six Paths Veritable Lord, can he replicate the others?” Sha asked with a frown.
“Sha, how does your strength compare to Sect Master Heavenly Access’s now?” Gu Hai asked.
“Many thanks for the sword Dao you gave me. I should not be weaker than the sect master now,” Sha replied seriously.
“Then isn’t the Spirit Mountain Holy Land’s strength…,” Sima Changkong said with an unsightly expression.
“This is just our guess. The Spirit Mountain Holy Land must have some considerations since it didn’t brazenly take action. We need to find out what. Everyone has weaknesses. We will take it slow,” Gu Hai said.
“Yes!” Everyone nodded.
“Chen Tianshan, the citizens in Three Mountains City suffered a calamity. Immediately send people to collect the corpses and bury them with a sovereign’s rites. We will personally preside over the burial,” Gu Hai said solemnly.
“A sovereign’s burial? Your Reverence…” Chen Tianshan’s expression changed.
“We want the whole world to know that the Han Imperial Dynasty treats the citizens like emperors. We want the world to know that the Spirit Mountain Holy Land is as evil as demons!” Gu Hai said solemnly.
Everyone showed a solemn expression.
“Yes!” Chen Tianshan answered.
“Sha, many thanks for your assistance today! Otherwise, Borderless Heavenly Capital would be in dire straits,” Gu Hai said gratefully.
Sha looked at Gu Hai. After some silence, he asked, “What was the Spirit Mountain Holy Land looking for?”
Everyone looked curiously at Gu Hai.
After some thought, Gu Hai did not hide the truth. He said, “Zhengfa Ming.”
“Zhengfa Ming?” Everyone felt slightly startled.
That little beggar? Everyone had an impression of him. That was the first time Gu Hai clashed with the Spirit Mountain Holy Land’s people.
“That little beggar? What is special about him? Why does the Spirit Mountain Holy Land care so much?” Sha asked curiously.
“If I guess right, it is not the Present Buddha who wants Zhengfa Ming,” Gu Hai said with a frown.
“Oh?”
“It should be the Southern Sea’s Purple Bamboo Forest. The Purple Bamboo Forest asked the Spirit Mountain Holy Land for help,” Gu Hai said.
“Why?” Sha asked out of curiosity.
“Nan Longnu and the Southern Sea Dragon King are both from the Purple Bamboo Forest. They came for Zhengfa Ming, and the Spirit Mountain Holy Land is just cooperating. If the Spirit Mountain Holy Land were determined to have him, Jiang Gautama could have come in person. Even if he had been delayed by something, why didn’t he appear in person when he showed up earlier? It should be because they were helping the Southern Sea’s Purple Bamboo Forest,” Gu Hai said with a frown.
“The Southern Sea’s Purple Bamboo Forest rarely ventures into the Divine Continent. They only have a certain relationship with the Spirit Mountain Holy Land. That Bodhisattva Nan Longnu came from the Purple Bamboo Forest, and when she went to the Spirit Mountain Holy Land, she became an honored guest,” Mo Yike said with a frown.
“It looks like the little beggar does not have a simple identity,” Sha said with a frown.
“He is still in closed-door cultivation. I will go verify it with him. However, based on how many people the Spirit Mountain Holy Land sent this time, we can see how much the Spirit Mountain Holy Land values the Purple Bamboo Forest. Sha, your Myriad Age Daoist Sect is also near the Southern Sea. May I trouble you with one more thing? Can you help me investigate?” Gu Hai asked, looking at Sha.
“I would go to take a look even if you did not ask.” Sha nodded with slightly narrowed eyes.
“We will share the information after figuring it out,” Gu Hai said seriously.
Gu Hai would ask Zhengfa Ming, while Sha would investigate the Purple Bamboo Forest. Then they would share information.
“Alright. I will not delay, then. Goodbye!” Sha said.
Gu Hai nodded and sent Sha out of the study.
Whoosh!
Sha turned into a beam of light and vanished into the horizon.
Only a few people remained in the study; all of them showed extremely grave expressions.
“Mo Yike, there’s no need to pay too much attention to the Spirit Mountain Holy Land for now. Get the Han Vengeance Army to capture the remaining one hundred-odd cities of the Wu Imperial Dynasty at the fastest speed possible. You have to be fast in case of any changes,” Gu Hai instructed.
“Yes!” Mo Yike answered.
Without Long Shenwu, the Wu Imperial Dynasty was simply loose sand, lacking unity. The Han Imperial Dynasty’s Han Vengeance Army would capture the cities quickly, so Mo Yike did not feel worried.
“Sima Changkong!” Gu Hai looked at Sima Changkong.
“This official is present,” Sima Changkong said respectfully.
“We would like to tell you Long Shenwu is not dead,” Gu Hai said solemnly.
“Oh?” This news startled Sima Changkong.
How can this be possible? The Wu Imperial Dynasty’s blessings have already scattered. How could Long Shenwu be alive?
“Didn’t the Han Imperial Dynasty’s blessings disappear twice before?” Gu Hai said indifferently.
Sima Changkong’s expression turned solemn as many thoughts flashed in his head. When he looked at Gu Hai, he understood what Gu Hai meant. Although he had joined the Han Nation, he still felt guilty towards Long Shenwu. By telling him Long Shenwu was alive, Gu Hai was telling him that Gu Hai spared Long Shenwu’s life because of him.
“Thank you, Your Reverence. This official is now a Han Nation official and does not concern myself with other matters anymore.” Sima Changkong bowed deeply.
Clearly, Sima Changkong acknowledged this favor from Gu Hai.
“We do not need you to interfere in the Wu Imperial Dynasty’s territories. We have something else for you to do,” Gu Hai said gravely.
“Your Reverence, please command me!” Sima Changkong said.
Whoosh!
Gu Hai waved his hand, suddenly summoning a figure from the Gu’s Immortal Firmament.
“Long Sanqian?” Chen Tianshan’s face sank.
“Your Reverence, is this Long Shenwu or…” Mo Yike frowned at Gu Hai.
“This official, Long Shenying, salutes Your Reverence!” Long Sanqian said while bowing respectfully.
While in the Gu’s Immortal Firmament, Long Shenying had mostly recovered from his injuries.
“Long Shenying?” everyone chorused in shock.
“Long Shenying, we will send Sima Changkong, Shangguan Hen, the Mosquito Daoist, and Yun Mo to help you regain your body. Is there anything else you need?” Gu Hai asked.
Yun Mo understood Teacher Yinyue in great detail, Shangguan Hen could transform, Sima Changkong was extraordinarily wise and intelligent, and the Mosquito Daoist was strong. This was an extremely strong lineup.
“Although Long Sanqian snatched my body, he is not familiar with the Ying Imperial Dynasty. He does not know about my information network or hidden factions and cannot mobilize them. Although he occupies my body, he is like a blind man figuring things out in Ying Divine City. The people Your Reverence assigned to help this official should suffice. Many thanks, Your Reverence!” Long Sanqian said gratefully.
“Mister Sima, did you hear all that?” Gu Hai looked at Sima Changkong.
Sima Changkong gazed at Long Sanqian in shock. This is Long Shenying? To think he submitted to the Han Imperial Dynasty? Is this true?
However, he could tell from Long Shenying’s attitude that Long Shenwu should be alive.
“Your Reverence, rest assured. This official will not disappoint Your Reverence!” Sima Changkong immediately answered.
Gu Hai nodded.
After making arrangements for the few, Gu Hai summoned other officials.
“Your Reverence!” Meng Tai bowed respectfully to Gu Hai, who sat behind the desk.
“Meng Tai, increase the Embroidered Uniform Guard’s surveillance of the Spirit Mountain Holy Land. Also, send people to the Southern Sea’s Purple Bamboo Forest to scout for information. Immediately report if there is any information, no matter how minor,” Gu Hai said.
“Yes!” Meng Tai answered.
“Also, investigate the nearby factions for any movements,” Gu Hai said.
“Your Reverence, you beat all the experts of the Spirit Mountain Holy Land into retreat in Borderless Heavenly Capital. The nearby factions probably would not dare offend us, right?” Meng Tai smiled.
“Go investigate, just in case,” Gu Hai said.
“Yes!” Meng Tai’s expression turned solemn.
After Meng Tai left, Gu Hai summoned Chang Ming.
“Chang Ming, how are your injuries now?” Gu Hai looked at Chang Ming.
“I am already much better. Your Reverence, thank you for your concern!” Chang Ming smiled.
“The blood race is considered people of darkness. There are many of them in the nether realm. Now that the Unborn Man is back, we can travel between the two realms. We need you to send some Blood Uniform Guards to the nether realm to investigate the distribution of factions in the nether realm. Focus on investigating the factions in the nether realm’s west!” Gu Hai commanded.
“The nether realm’s west?” Chang Ming’s expression turned solemn.
Gu Hai nodded. “We suspect the Spirit Mountain Holy Land has a powerful faction in the nether realm. Furthermore, the Spirit Mountain Holy Land is situated at the Divine Continent’s west, so the most convenient region for them to develop a faction in the nether realm also would be the west. That would make it easy for both sides to reinforce each other.”
“Your Reverence, rest assured!” Chang Ming answered.
“By the way, do you know the origins of your Primal Essence Pearl?” Gu Hai asked.
“I’m not sure. I obtained it by chance back then. A wild-looking man rescued me and passed a cultivation technique to me. He took me as his student and gave me the Primal Essence Pearl, as he would be reincarnating. He said the Mosquito Daoist trapped him in that valley for a thousand years back in the past,” Chang Ming replied seriously.
Gu Hai frowned slightly. “We will need to find time to ask the Mosquito Daoist about this.”
“Yes! Many thanks, Your Reverence!” Chang Ming said gratefully as his expression changed.
Chang Ming really wanted to know the answer. However, the Mosquito Daoist lusted for the Primal Essence Pearl, and Chang Ming had not had the chance to ask about it yet. It would be great if the emperor asked on his behalf.
After sending off Chang Ming, Gu Hai summoned the Unborn Man and Gu Qin.
“Father, you say that this Little Tang is fake?” Gu Qin said in shock.
Gu Hai nodded as he looked at the Unborn Man.
The Unborn Man remained silent for a while. “He is currently recuperating. If Your Reverence had not told me, I would not have known. However, now that Your Reverence mentioned it, this official recalls something.”
“Oh?”
“Rumors said that the shaman race had five main lines of inheritance during ancient times: the four main zombie branches; world devouring; divine blood replication; and two others I do not know about. The legends only mention five main lines of inheritance,” the Unborn Man said.
“Oh? The four main zombie branches are Jiangchen, Hanba, Houqing, and Yinggou?” Gu Hai said as his expression changed slightly.
“Yes. World devouring should be what Chiyou and his eighty-one brothers cultivate. They devour the world, eating everything. Nothing can last against them,” the Unborn Man explained.
Gu Hai’s expression changed. He immediately recalled Chiyou, whom he had met not long ago. Indeed, that was the case.
“I know of a third line of inheritance, divine blood replication. It is the ability that the Spirit Mountain Holy Land grasped.” The Unborn Man frowned.
“Divine blood replication?” Gu Hai raised his eyebrows slightly.
“Yes. I’m not sure how to do it, but the gist is that so long as they gathered the flesh, blood, or spiritual soul fragments of others, they could create an identical person. Furthermore, they would control this person. They can replicate anyone, no matter who it is,” the Unborn Man explained.
“The Six Paths Veritable Lord’s fragments? Will Jiang Gautama replicate the nine Six Paths Veritable Lord clones from the past?” Gu Hai said with an unsightly expression.
“The shaman race is too horrifying, right? Divine blood replication? If they could do it in the past, wouldn’t they have swept their way through the world long ago?” Gu Qin said in shock.
“I’m not sure. In any case, the shaman race’s leader in ancient times was Jiangchen. The divine blood replication did not take the limelight.” The Unborn Man shook his head.
“The Divine Dao? We have truly underestimated it,” Gu Hai said with a sullen expression.
“Father, are you worried that the earlier Bodhisattva Lian Sheng is also a fake? That’s why you acted overly cordial with him?” Gu Qin asked.
Gu Hai nodded. “We have already called him over. We will see when he comes later.”
