20demayo Chapter 40 Obtained Without Effort
Chapter 40 Obtained Without Effort
It was dark.
Si Chen sat in meditation in the secret chamber, with only a flawless white wall three feet in front of him. He held the secret letter sent by Xu Wenjue in his hand, which he had read several times.
"A bunch of beasts who regard the people of the world as worthless weeds, instigating Zhang Xianzhong to invade Sichuan for their own selfish reasons? Lin Ruhai of Suzhou immolated himself, and the Lin family's daughter went north, which was just the right time."
The passing of our loved ones is indeed a great loss.
But the powerful and wealthy regard the common people as worthless, caring only for power, which makes Si Chen even more disgusted with them.
The delicate white paper, without any wind, naturally turned into a cloud of ashes at your fingertips.
Si Chen cleared his mind of distractions. "They're really getting a little too anxious to oppose me, this sorcerer. If they push too hard, there will be a backlash sooner or later."
Jia Chen cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty, your health is of utmost importance. You are at a critical juncture and cannot delay any longer. Once the power of incense and prayer takes effect, it can even burn away your lifespan."
Their lives and fortunes were all tied to Si Chen.
In comparison, the situation in the south is insignificant.
Si Chen raised his wrist, the scales beneath his skin no longer possessing their former luster. "No rush. The power of incense and prayer is created by the hearts of the people; the attention of all seems to be divinely aided."
To bear the scorn of the people is to be the ruler of the state; this is also a life-or-death hurdle for the monarch as the ruler of the state.
This is simply the price to pay for building high walls and delaying the declaration of kingship.
Only with a government or a nation, with such a spiritual entity manifested in subspace, can these burdens be shared with the nation.
This is the difference between loyalty to an individual and loyalty to a nation.
Is it about wielding immense power in one person, or about governing the world together with scholar-officials?
Si Chen lowered his eyes. The lessons of the past were still fresh in his mind. How could he repeat the same mistakes? "My mind is made up. There is no need for you all to persuade me further."
The crowd looked worried as they left the secret chamber to protect Si Chen.
As Jia Chen watched the sounds of wind and thunder erupting within the secret chamber, and the clear blue sky outside suddenly transformed into a raging storm, a sense of melancholy welled up in his heart.
"All rulers of humanity must undergo this process; it is the will of Heaven."
"Is there any family that is invincible, any country that is not destroyed, or any emperor that lasts forever?"
"If you can cross it, the road ahead will be smooth. If you cannot, at best you will forever lose the true path of the dragon, at worst you will die and your path will be extinguished. Throughout history, very few have ever crossed it."
"Enough, enough. Everyone, please do your jobs. The higher-ups will make the decision."
Jiazi rode a six-legged celestial horse, circling the Palace of Saints, and even the sacred Palace of Saints could hardly attract his attention.
Cao Youyi transformed into a giant tiger, coiled up at the entrance, and smashed the blue bricks under his claws into dust.
Liu Ji flapped her wings and hovered in the air, staring blankly in the direction of Si Chen.
The psionic energy in that area almost solidified into a tangible form, manifesting in reality.
When Si Chen stepped into the once tranquil inner world of his mind, it was now in complete chaos, with the entire star sea ablaze as far as the eye could see.
The world is corrupt and people's hearts are cold and callous; what they love and hate all stems from selfishness.
Countless rumors and gossip echoed in my ears, while songs praising his great kindness lingered in my heart.
Most of the resentment comes from the south and manifests here.
They truly felt the pain and suffering of the people, experiencing firsthand what hardship is.
His internal organs were screaming, his stomach was empty, as if a heavy hammer was hanging on him, and the slightest movement was like hitting his nerves. Hunger was tangible at this moment.
Empty imagination has turned into cold reality.
Si Chen experienced firsthand the despair of being starved to death.
Only when people deeply understand their own insignificance can they gain a new understanding of the world.
Only unforgettable memories can reshape something.
When Si Chen opened his eyes in a daze, the ordeal he had just experienced was already over.
The world before my eyes sometimes transforms into the flavors of food and drink, fragrant medicines and utensils, exquisite clothes, carriages, elephants and horses, fine silks and brocades, gold, silver and pearls, rice, wheat and fruits, bedding and curtains, fields and servants, fragrant carriages and beautiful women, all changing to interrogate me.
Si Chen divided his thoughts, transforming them into a sword of intent, and slashed at it.
Suddenly, the world before my eyes transformed into Fengdu Beiman.
They either swallow fire and eat charcoal, or boil in cauldrons, walk on mountains of knives, climb trees of swords, grind and pound, saw and cut, have iron birds peck at their eyes, plow their tongues with iron plows, be tortured by oxen, carry iron rods on their bodies, pus and blood flow freely, their bodies rot and decay, sink into darkness, wander through mud and heaps, and fill rivers with stones.
A demon or evil spirit descended to earth to disturb his mind.
Or perhaps this is a purgatory, where they are tortured day and night.
Si Chen's head was throbbing with pain; he truly felt he could neither live nor die.
In a daze, I held only one righteous thought in my heart and recited the Song of Righteousness: "The heavens and earth possess righteous energy, which manifests in various forms, becoming rivers and mountains below, and the sun and stars above..."
With each challenge overcome within the inner realm, Si Chen felt a little lighter.
With each hardship overcome, the primordial spirit grows stronger.
Every hurdle is difficult, but every hurdle can be overcome.
Si Chen has transformed into a colossal god, standing tall and upright, supporting this world.
The Three Enclosures, Four Symbols, and Twenty-Eight Mansions hang in the sky.
The turbid air sank down and manifested as cities and mountains, and a floating island that was almost exactly the same as Tianjin, which was under the jurisdiction of Sichen. This place became the sacred place where the spirits of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom heroes would later reside.
Those who cultivate in the mortal realm will inevitably face trials from demons when they reach the crucial moment of success.
Si Chen used his body to support the sky, burning his flesh and skin into mud, leaving only a skeleton.
From the Great Floating Land, the place where the Primordial Heavenly King resides, there was a mysterious connection, and a great demon descended upon this inner realm, as if Heaven and Earth were interrogating him.
Those who study the Tao and human kings undergo the most trials of demonic possession. They first become minor demons, then great demons, then demon kings, before they can attain the Tao.
Ordinary cultivators, at most, will be tortured by the demonic offspring, and will even receive preferential treatment.
As for Si Chen, this was a powerful attack from the start.
The next time someone claims to be emperor and establishes a new country, the one who will come to interrogate them will probably be the Supreme Demon King, right?
Si Chen was still finding joy in his suffering when he looked up and stared intently.
A figure emerged from the sea of calamities, seemingly born from the collective resentment of heaven and earth, and bowed, saying, "Fellow Daoist, I have come to guide you."
Si Chen suddenly realized, "Hong Chengchou, I never imagined that by some twist of fate, I would end up doing this."
He was already exhausted by this point.
The three treasures of essence, energy, and spirit were burned to ashes.
This is the time when the old forces have been exhausted and the new forces have not yet arisen.
Seeing that half of Si Chen's body was about to be burned to ashes, Hong Chengchou couldn't help but laugh, "Truly, it came to us without any effort at all."
Hong Chengchou sat cross-legged, while Si Chen stood facing him.
His appearance gradually transformed, like looking in a mirror, slowly changing into Si Chen's facial features.
A feeling of nausea and horror arose spontaneously.
Si Chen could sense that something important was being taken away.
Si Chen suppressed the fear that had surfaced in his heart and focused his mind. "So this is how you Heavenly Demons were born."
Hong Chengchou nodded. "In this world, there are those who are born from moisture and eggs, and those who are born from wombs. What's so strange about that we demons can be born by transforming and seizing bodies? Kindness arises from harm, and harm arises from kindness. In this world, good comes from evil, and demons are born from the human heart."
An openly blatant enemy is not scary.
The most difficult to guard against is this kind of celestial demon that is transformed.
Looking around, Si Chen realized he had reached a dead end, but he felt a sense of relief.
Hong Chengchou had already transformed into his likeness, pointing at his stark white bones and laughing, "It's a pity that you've cultivated for so many years, only to lose it all in one day, becoming a wedding dress for someone else. I'd be impolite to refuse."
What was taken away along with them was not only their supernatural powers and magical abilities.
And there's also the name Si Chen.
Time flies.
The first millennium has passed.
Si Chen asked himself, "Who am I?"
If one has forgotten even their own name, then they truly cease to exist.
"I am Si Chen."
Si Chen's skull was burned into glass, yet he still kept repeating that name in his mouth.
Betrayal is not terrible. One day, the winds of history will sweep the dust off my grave, and the people of my homeland will have something to think about.
Forgetting is the most terrible thing; the clothes and attire of our homeland are no longer recognized. Han people speak the language of barbarians, yet they curse the Han people from the city walls.
Hong Chengchou placed the remains of Si Chen on the golden throne and asked with a smile, "Come and repeat after me, 'Blood sacrifice to the Great Horned Rat God, skull offered to the golden throne.' That way you can be freed."
Yes, how could I not be tired?
Giving up is easy; when people are in a state of decline, they don't feel the hardship.
Si Chen's frozen mental world was suddenly awakened: "I am Si Chen!"
"Give up, the annals of history have long forgotten you."
"I am Si Chen!"
And then, after who knows how much time had passed, even the bones had turned to dust.
A celestial voice from the heavens demanded, "Who are you?"
In the vast emptiness, unseen entities whispered amongst themselves, coalescing and coalescing into form, before erupting in a resounding voice: "I am Si Chen!"
All supernatural powers and magical abilities trembled simultaneously, and they naturally came to join forces.
Hong Chengchou transformed into a thought and fled in panic, thinking, "Damn it, even if you were a stubborn rock, you should have melted by now!"
How can there be such an unyielding person in this world?
Countless illusions appeared and disappeared before my eyes.
Si Chen slowly awoke, and the empty room was filled with light.
He stood in the hall, his body radiating a vast, clear light, with the essence of the sun and moon above his head.
The spiritual energy within his body, fueled by the incense offerings of countless people, was like steam boiling, permeating his entire being. From the inside out, from the large to the small, it penetrated thoroughly, with light reflecting off each other and every point illuminating the other, shining brightly like twinkling stars.
From then on, incense was no longer considered poisonous.
Even after Si Chen dies, he can still ascend to godhood.
Every move they make is accompanied by the winds and clouds.
The crowd pushed open the door and entered, kneeling down as if a mountain of gold had been overturned, shouting, "Congratulations on your ascension!"
Si Chen burst out of the door, leaping into the air and gracefully drifting away with the clouds. At that moment, the moon was high in the sky, and he suddenly turned back and bowed.
"The tide rises from the chaotic sea, and only today do I realize who I am."
"The world is vast, and there is much to be done."
Hahahahahahahahahahahaha~