The descent of the Heavenly Dao was supposed to be twenty years later, but if someone could sense its descent in advance through some "karma," then the result would be...
Emerging from the secluded palace where Shang Shoufei was confined, Wanli was still unable to sleep until nightfall, so he could only sit and discuss the Dao with the Celestial Master.
"Sensing the descent of the Heavenly Dao in advance, the origin of the Jin Jizi is indeed unclear. This matter is beyond the ability of this humble Taoist. To know the truth, one must ask the ministers who were close to Emperor Jiajing during his reign," the Celestial Master advised Emperor Wanli.
"Celestial Master, you mean Yan Song, Yan Shifan, Xu Jie... all of them are already..."
Yan Song and Yan Shifan had already been executed, and Xu Jie had passed away in the eleventh year of Wanli's reign. In the end, how many old ministers from the Jiajing era were still alive? And those who were close to Emperor Jiajing were basically those who were good at writing 'green prose.' This is why the saying 'green prose prime minister' appeared, a term used by those disgruntled scholars to mock those who rose to power through cleverness.
Besides these few prominent figures, others like Li Chunfang and Guo Pu, who were also good at writing green prose, had all passed away. Guo Pu died the latest, but that was five years ago.
"All dead? Not a single one left?"
"Indeed, all are dead. The close ministers related to Emperor Jiajing are all dead."
Although the Celestial Master wanted to say that this was like an act of silencing witnesses, considering the physical condition and age of these ministers, no matter how they died, it was very reasonable. There was no way to investigate this matter, and no one would find anything wrong with it. Must people live to eighty or ninety to be considered acceptable?
In this era where forty was considered old, people in their eighties or nineties were truly rare. Even if ministers lived in comfort, reaching eighty was still a luxury. Only Xu Jie died at the age of eighty.
"All the old ministers are dead, and the arrangements for all the palaces and Taoist temples during the Jiajing Emperor's reign have been thoroughly erased by the former emperor in the Longqing era. Was this action also ordered by Emperor Jiajing?"
Wanli knew his grandfather was cunning and enjoyed scheming with his ministers while on the throne. Even figures like Yan Song and Xu Jie were merely his playthings in his later years.
Therefore, even the matter of Emperor Longqing destroying those Taoist facilities made Emperor Wanli think that perhaps this was also within Emperor Jiajing's calculations.
Perhaps he had arranged for Emperor Longqing to do so.
Or perhaps he had deliberately used Emperor Longqing's aversion to these things to induce him to act.
All the old ministers were gone, the facilities were gone, and all traces of the past seemed to have vanished with the wind. Apart from the ancestral tablet in the ancestral temple with which he had contended with his ministers and officials, and Shang Shoufei, who was now confined in the Little Qiankun, Emperor Jiajing seemed to have left nothing behind.
"The Jin Jizi and the Jade Divine Pan, when combined, can allow one to comprehend the power of the Heavenly Dao's descent in advance. Whoever obtains this power can awe the mountains and rivers, and may even become the key to the establishment of the next orthodox dynasty."
"Where is the Lingbao Tianzun?"
"Why would the 'Tremor of the Nation' be casually handed over to ordinary cultivators?"
The three questions posed by Shang Shoufei were crucial, but Emperor Wanli was now completely bewildered.
"Then let's go to the ancestral temple to take a look? Before the spirit tablet of Emperor Ruizong."
"The ancestral temple?"
Emperor Wanli frowned.
The Ming Emperor Ruizong, also known as Prince Yixian, was the father of Emperor Jiajing and originally Wanli's great-grandfather. His branch of the family was not supposed to ascend to the throne. It was only because Emperor Zhengde died suddenly without an heir that Emperor Jiajing was adopted into Emperor Zhengde's lineage. Later, during the Great Rites Controversy initiated by Emperor Jiajing, the main focus was on conferring the title of "Emperor" upon Prince Yixian...
"But that was just political struggle. Perhaps it started with a dispute of pride. After all, changing parents is something no one can easily accept. Emperor Jiajing was just a youth at the time..."
If he wasn't spirited, would he be called a youth?
Later, it evolved into a political confrontation between the emperor and the new nobles of the Great Rites, as well as the old court officials.
"However, Your Majesty, please forgive my presumption..."
"This humble Taoist remembers that Emperor Jiajing had very poor innate talent when he was young. Later, he met a high-ranking expert for guidance, and with the help of Shao Yuanjie of Longhu Mountain and the demonic Taoist Tao Zhongwen, he refined potent elixirs to defy fate."
"Do you still remember the spell used in this process, 'Successor Extension Method'?"
Emperor Wanli pondered for a moment: "Successors, ancestral temple, grandfather..."
"Myriad generations? Bloodline? No matter who it is, as long as it is their own bloodline, and one person sits on the imperial throne..."
The latter words were spoken by Emperor Jiajing through his transformed self, the Fox Dragon, and this was also the primary reason for the estrangement between his grandfather Jiajing and his grandson Wanli.
It didn't matter who the emperor was; what mattered was that the emperor belonged to this bloodline.
"The ancestral temple! The Imperial Ancestral Temple, let's go to the Imperial Ancestral Temple now!"
Emperor Wanli wanted to go to the ancestral temple with the Celestial Master, but the Celestial Master stated that the Forbidden City was newly built, and many palaces and towers were integrated into the Dharma Realm. Only the ancestral temple, protected by the nation's fortune, retained its past appearance. As an outsider, how could he enter the emperor's ancestral temple?
There was no other way. Emperor Wanli had to take the Jingzhen Sword and go by himself.
When the Forbidden City collapsed and ascended into the sky, even the Altar of Land and Grain and the Imperial Ancestral Temple outside the Forbidden City, within the Imperial City, were dragged up into the high Dharma Realm.
Within the Imperial Ancestral Temple, incense curled upwards. In the Dharma Realm, this was the only place where the appearance of the old Imperial City could be seen.
Pushing open the heavy, colorful gate.
The Halberd Gate.
The Sumeru pedestal.
The Imperial Road Bridge.
The Prince and Official Bridge.
The Hall of Sacrifice. During festival sacrifices, the spirit tablets of various ancestral emperors would be moved from the寝殿 (Chamber of Ancestors) behind to this front hall for major sacrifices.
Finally, the Chamber of Ancestors.
However, the moment Emperor Wanli stepped through the gate of the Imperial Ancestral Temple, he froze.
The ancestral temple was originally a place to house the spirit tablets of ancestors. Compared to the modest ancestral temples of Korea, the Ming Dynasty's ancestral temple was like a replica of the Three Great Halls.
As the emperor, Wanli was naturally familiar with the interior decoration of the Imperial Ancestral Temple.
But now, something seemed different.
There was an indescribable sense of wrongness. The emptiness was normal, the curling incense was normal, and even the eunuchs serving here were normal.
They were too normal.
The Jingzhen Divine Sword suddenly vibrated, emitting a sound like thunder. The eunuchs suddenly showed expressions of terror, and after dozens of sword hums, the surrounding scenery began to blur.
Then, it gradually turned into darkness, and when Emperor Wanli took a step, he realized he was not inside the main hall.
But outside the hall.
Before the threshold.
All the scenery was something that had transformed from the true Chamber of Ancestors and the outer hall.
"Because the world has been in turmoil for two years, I have not come to the temple to offer sacrifices to my ancestors. After the Dharma Realm ascended to the heavens, this gate has never been opened, but I never expected it to become like this..."
Sweat beaded on Emperor Wanli's forehead.
"Who is inside?"
The Chamber of Ancestors was completely dark. All the jade pillars and divine bricks had disappeared, like an entrance to a Dharma Realm ready to devour everything. There was nothing there. Even if illuminated by fire, the light only reached three inches in front of him.
The Jingzhen sword vibrated violently, indicating that there was something abnormal in the Imperial Ancestral Temple!
"You came at the wrong time, and you brought that sword."
A deep voice emanated from the darkness, reaching Emperor Wanli's ears clearly.
"Since ancient times, two dragons have never met. This rule has been in place since the founding of the Great Ancestor. Since you have discovered the secret here, perhaps you will not be able to leave here alive today."
"However, the person named 'Wanli' will continue to exist..."
"A borrowed life will eventually be repaid..."
Emperor Wanli quickly retreated several steps, holding the divine sword horizontally across his chest, and rebuked:
"What evil spirit! Does my divine sword not suffice?"
But the darkness showed no abnormality; instead, it became quiet.
After several breaths.
Chaotic sounds came from within, along with various painful cries:
"Help! Who, who will save me! Hurry and save me!"
"I am the Son of Heaven of the Ming Dynasty, you cannot treat me like this! Eat him, he is also the Son of Heaven of the Ming Dynasty!"
"Damn it, my head, my head has been eaten...!"
After a burst of chaotic howling, the sounds from within disappeared again, followed by the reappearance of the original deep voice.
"Wanli... Wanli... do you want to live?"
"Do you think you can kill me with the sword left by Jiajing?"
"Is this how you treat the benefactor who gave you life?"
It was as if lightning struck Emperor Wanli's mind.
"The high-ranking expert who guided Emperor Jiajing?"
"You dare to devour the ancestral incense in the Imperial Ancestral Temple of my Ming Dynasty?"
"Is the Jin Jizi left by Emperor Jiajing yours?"
He had originally intended to investigate the worldly arrangements mentioned by Shang Shoufei and the three questions left by Emperor Jiajing, but instead, he made such a terrifying discovery.
"Jin Jizi... I haven't heard the name of this artifact for a hundred years. Do you have doubts about it? It seems that the matter of it being able to assimilate its holder and allow the holder to 'transform into the Dao' has been known."
"Jin Jizi... Gold, is the indestructible essence of life, the most solid substance in the world. Buddhism has the golden body, and Taoism has the golden elixir, both of which symbolize the bright, solid, and indestructible nature of gold."
"Since ancient times, there has also been the saying that sincerity can move mountains and rivers."
"The sound of striking it will transform the holder into the Dao, thereby opening the door to comprehending the Heavenly Dao... This thing is mine, and it is not mine... its origin..."
The deep voice spoke halfway, then let out a piercing laugh:
"If you want to know, then come in!"
Emperor Wanli suddenly said, "Could it be... you are one of the former emperors? Or one of my Ming Dynasty's ancestors..."
"Silence!"
A furious roar suddenly erupted from the darkness!
"You descendants of the Ming imperial family... all deserve to die!"
"I... am merely transformed from 'resentment'..."
"Where is there any imperial title!"