Upon hearing Lü Buwei's words, the court ministers immediately recalled the day when nine meteors fell from the sky.
There had even been a prophecy foretelling the fall of Qin.
Fortunately, at the time of the celestial meteor shower, Qin's national power was at its peak, and the Heavenly Profound Mirror allowed complete control over the empire, preventing any chaos.
However
If Qin had not possessed such an iron grip over its territory, the falling meteors would have surely thrown the land into turmoil.
Now, the mention of celestial beings and gods
It did indeed align with the current circumstances.
"Drought, plague."
"They are making their move against Great Qin."
Ying Zheng furrowed his brows, a trace of concern appearing on his face.
Such disasters manipulating drought and plague were clearly within the domain of divine beings.
To cause widespread drought and disease almost instantaneously
For this era, it was an insurmountable crisis. Moreover, the drought had specifically struck Qin's key granary regions.
"They have already made their move."
A voice rang out from outside the hall.
The gathered ministers turned to look toward the entrance.
Zhao Feng walked in with steady steps, his expression calm, completely unshaken by the news.
"We greet the Crown Prince."
The ministers bowed in unison.
Seeing Zhao Feng arrive, a sense of reassurance spreads through the court.
"Feng'er."
"Drought, plague."
"This is the work of those so-called celestial beings."
"What should be done?" Ying Zheng asked gravely.
"The solution lies within Great Qin's national destiny." Zhao Feng smiled.
"National destiny?" Ying Zheng frowned in confusion.
"The Northern Frontier and Baiyue have already fallen under Qin's rule."
"Seizing their fortune and converting it into our national destiny, Qin shall ascend to an imperial dynasty."
"With the power of an imperial dynasty, we can establish the Nine Provinces Barrier, preventing the influence of divine powers upon Qin's lands." Zhao Feng explained.
"Excellent."
Ying Zheng nodded, his expression gradually relaxing.
"Feng'er."
"What exactly are they trying to achieve?" Ying Zheng asked, anger rising in his voice.
This rage was naturally directed at the so-called celestial beings of the upper realm.
"Father."
"I've already told you."
"Their goal is the fall of Great Qin to seize the fortune of Shenzhou, to enslave its people, and to use them as blood sacrifices."
"Whether it is Qin ruling or another dynasty, it makes no difference to them they will never let Shenzhou be free." Zhao Feng spoke calmly.
Ying Zheng nodded solemnly.
Though Zhao Feng had spoken of celestial beings before, Ying Zheng had not taken it too seriously.
After all, these celestial beings resided in another realm and had little influence on the mortal world.
But today
Drought.
Plague.
Caused by them.
Even with the distance between their realms, they were able to unleash such calamities upon Qin.
Ying Zheng had no choice but to take them seriously now.
"Your Majesty, Crown Prince."
"Why are the celestial beings targeting Great Qin?"
"Is it simply because our nation has grown too powerful?" Lü Buwei asked in confusion.
The court ministers also looked puzzled.
At these words
Just as Ying Zheng was about to respond
Zhao Feng spoke instead:
"Prime Minister, in your eyes and the eyes of the ministers here what do you believe celestial beings to be?"
"The celestial beings stand above all, governing the order of the world, and enjoy the fruits of eternal life."
"They should be as described in ancient legends free and unfettered, beyond the mortal realm." Lü Buwei thought for a moment before answering.
Many ministers nodded in agreement.
Hearing this
Zhao Feng chuckled.
"What if I told you that these so-called celestial beings are, in truth, demons?"
"Celestial beings… are demons?"
The ministers exchanged bewildered glances.
"Then let me show you the truth of these so-called celestial lands."
With a wave of his hand
A powerful force enveloped the entire palace.
In an instant
The scene before everyone's eyes changed.
The grand and imposing palace transformed into an island drenched in blood a mountain of corpses, a sea of bones.
Blood soaked the land, and skeletons were scattered everywhere.
Everywhere they looked, they saw scenes of horrific carnage.
After a while
The vision dissipated.
"This.. this is what you call celestial beings."
"They devour human flesh, seize people's innate vitality to extend their own lives, and steal human essence to ascend in power."
"Shenzhou, the mortal world is one of the last remaining sanctuaries, but it has long since been targeted by these so-called celestial beings."
Zhao Feng's voice echoed through the hall.
The ministers turned pale.
Even though they were high-ranking officials, accustomed to life's struggles and conspiracies
The scene from just now had shaken them to their core.
A land littered with corpses.
Men, women, children even infants.
A blood pool writhing with victims.
It was a true hell on earth.
"Crown Prince."
"What should Great Qin do?" Lü Buwei asked gravely.
"There is only one path Great Qin must grow stronger."
"If we are strong enough, the celestial beings will not be able to harm us."
"For now, they can only use divine techniques to target us, but they cannot descend to this realm."
"As long as Great Qin becomes powerful, they will be powerless against us." Zhao Feng declared.
"We pledge our lives in service to Great Qin!"
The ministers declared in unison.
The civil and military officials of the court all bowed in unison.
Having witnessed such a brutal and bloody scene, each minister felt a deep sense of urgency.
Being raised as livestock?
Being devoured by celestial beings?
Such a thought was too horrifying to even imagine.
At this moment
"Report!"
"Your Majesty, Your Highness the Crown Prince!"
"A bald man has arrived outside the palace, claiming to be from the Buddhist sect of the Western Regions. He says he has come specifically from the West to save Great Qin."
A military officer from the imperial guards strode into the hall to report.
"Buddhism?"
Ying Zheng looked toward Zhao Feng with some doubt.
"They've finally arrived."
"It would have been strange if they hadn't." Zhao Feng chuckled.
After dealing with the celestial envoy, Zhao Feng was well aware that there were cultivators in Qin's western territories. More importantly, they were not from the Heavenly Court but from Buddhism.
In the Earthly Immortal Realm, many factions viewed Shenzhou as a feast they wished to devour, and the Buddhist sect was no exception.
Now that they had come
They surely had their motives.
"Summon him in."
Zhao Feng directed the military officer in the hall.
"As you command."
The officer swiftly retreated.
Not long after
A monk clad in a Buddhist robe, with a bald head and a string of prayer beads in his hand, entered the audience hall.
Monks had never set foot in Shenzhou during this era.
All the ministers gazed curiously at this bald-headed intruder, their expressions filled with intrigue.
"Amitabha."
"I am Fa Lin, a humble monk. Greetings to the Qin Emperor."
Upon entering the hall, the monk pressed his palms together and bowed slightly toward Ying Zheng.
"Outrageous!"
"Foreign visitors meeting His Majesty must kneel in respect!"
Wang Jian stepped forward and shouted coldly.
"Kneel!"
The military officials echoed the demand in unison.
At that moment, powerful martial auras filled the hall.
Fa Lin cast a subtle glance at Wang Jian and the other military officers, clearly sensing their martial energy.
"I am a man beyond worldly affairs, not bound by secular customs. I kneel only to the Buddha."
"The emperors of the mortal world are unworthy of my bow. If I were to kneel before the Qin Emperor, he would suffer a shortened lifespan."
Fa Lin swept his gaze across the hall and spoke with a condescending tone.
"Oh?"
"Then let's see how you can shorten my lifespan."
"Kneel!"
Ying Zheng's voice rang out coldly.
With his words
A decree of imperial command manifested.
The boundless force of Qin's national destiny stirred the power of human order.
Fa Lin, who had previously appeared indifferent, suddenly turned pale.
Before he could react, a golden Buddhist light enveloped his entire body, attempting to resist the overwhelming power of Qin's national destiny.
"Nascent Soul uniting with the Dao."
Zhao Feng instantly discerned the monk's cultivation level.
No wonder he had dared to enter Qin alone he had formidable strength.
However
His power at the Nascent Soul uniting with the Dao stage was ultimately no match for the national destiny of Great Qin.
Boom!
The golden Buddhist light around Fa Lin shattered instantly, and he was forced to his knees. No matter how hard he struggled, it was futile.
"What's this?"
"You knelt?"
"Did I suffer a shortened lifespan?"
Ying Zheng looked down at the monk with icy disdain.
"You… What kind of sorcery is this?"
Fa Lin's face was filled with shock.
Clearly
He had not anticipated such an outcome.
"You traveled from the Western Regions to Xianyang."
"Tell me, why have you come to Great Qin?" Ying Zheng asked coldly.
"Qin Emperor, if we are to talk, this is not the way to do it."
Fa Lin's voice was filled with indignation.
Clearly
He was still bound by the human order's suppression, unable to stand. Even his cultivation at the Nascent Soul uniting with the Dao stage could not break free.
Ying Zheng glanced at him and waved his hand.
In an instant
The pressure on Fa Lin dissipated.
Slowly, Fa Lin stood up, but his previous air of superiority was gone.
"I have come to Qin at the command of my Buddha, to save Shenzhou and Great Qin." Fa Lin pressed his palms together, speaking with solemn sincerity.
"What need does Great Qin have of your salvation?" Ying Zheng responded calmly.
"Amitabha."
"A calamity has descended from the heavens. Does the Qin Emperor not see it?"
"This is the wrath of the celestial gods the Heavenly Court has cast down disasters upon the land."
"As long as Qin stands, these calamities will not cease."
"In time, your empire, and all of Shenzhou, will fall into endless suffering."
"My Buddha, in his infinite compassion, seeks to deliver all beings from suffering. If the Qin Emperor issues a decree for the people of Qin to worship my Buddha, then divine grace shall be bestowed, disasters shall be dispelled, and all of Shenzhou will be blessed with the Buddha's mercy, safeguarding the people of Great Qin."
Fa Lin spoke with unwavering conviction, exuding an air of boundless Buddhist benevolence, as if he had come solely to grant divine favor to Qin.
"Heh."
"You ask Great Qin to worship your so-called Buddha?"
A cold smile appeared on Ying Zheng's lips.
"Buddha, celestial beings they are all the same filth."
"You dare to claim worthiness?"
As soon as these words fell
Fa Lin's expression changed.
"Qin Emperor, you have gone too far!"
"The very existence of Qin defies the mandate of heaven. The Heavenly Court seeks to destroy your empire and sever Shenzhou because it follows the will of destiny."
"My Buddha, in his boundless mercy, has offered you protection, yet you refuse to recognize this kindness!"
Fa Lin's voice turned cold with fury.
At this moment
A surge of power erupted from Fa Lin, his aura of the Void Refinement and Unity Realm bursting forth.
A brilliant golden Buddhist radiance shimmered around him, making him appear extraordinarily sacred.
"Stay put."
Zhao Feng cast a sidelong glance and pressed his palm downward.
A massive palm imprint descended toward Fa Lin.
"What?!"
Fa Lin's expression changed drastically. As the invisible palm imprint bore down on him, he hastily channeled his Buddhist light and struck out with a palm.
But it was too late.
Boom!
Fa Lin's protective Buddhist radiance was instantly shattered, and his entire body was sent flying.
Ren Xiao immediately stepped forward with several Imperial Guards, pulling out iron chains and piercing them through Fa Lin's clavicles. Two more guards drove sharp spikes into his dantian, sealing it completely.
This method
This was precisely how Great Qin dealt with cultivators.
Pierce the clavicles to sever their strength.
Impale the dantian to prevent them from channeling spiritual power.
As for the chains and spikes themselves, Great Qin had the Heavenly Court to thank these were forged from materials taken from the nine fallen meteorites.
"You… what kind of sorcery are you using?"
Pinned to the ground by the Imperial Guards, Fa Lin struggled to lift his head and glare at Zhao Feng.
"If it isn't Buddhist cultivation or immortal cultivation, then it must be sorcery?"
"Truly, birds of a feather flock together." Zhao Feng sneered with ridicule.
"Shenzhou has long lost its cultivation inheritance. How have you regained the ability to cultivate?"
"And the Heavenly Court has always maintained oversight over Shenzhou how did you escape their surveillance?" Fa Lin stared at Zhao Feng in disbelief.
"I will ask, and you will answer."
"Otherwise you die."
Zhao Feng raised his hand.
Fa Lin was instantly lifted into the air by an invisible force.
"You dare kill me?"
"I am backed by the Buddhist sect! By the Buddha himself!"
"We came to Great Qin with goodwill, yet you act with such hostility!"
"If you harm me, my sect will surely wage war and annihilate your Qin!" Fa Lin roared in fury.
Seeing this, Zhao Feng couldn't be bothered to waste words.
He extended his divine sense
And directly invaded Fa Lin's sea of consciousness.
Given Zhao Feng's current spiritual strength, soul-searching this monk was effortless.
As his divine sense pierced Fa Lin's mind, breaking through his Buddhist defenses
"AAAHHH"
Fa Lin screamed in agony, his body convulsing violently.
Soul-searching was an exceedingly cruel technique.
And after undergoing it
Fa Lin would be left a mindless fool.
After a while, Zhao Feng withdrew his divine sense, leaving Fa Lin limp on the ground, eyes blank, giggling foolishly.
"So the Buddhist sect also seeks to devour Great Qin's fate?"
"How utterly laughable."
Zhao Feng smirked coldly.
Through the soul search, he now fully understood the Buddhist sect's intent.
Unlike the Heavenly Court, which sought to destroy Great Qin outright and gradually consume Shenzhou's fate by force,
The Buddhist sect preferred a subtler approach
Spreading their teachings throughout Great Qin,
Luring its citizens into worship, harvesting their faith, and seizing the nation's fate bit by bit.
Over time, Buddhism would take root in Shenzhou, and its destiny would fall into their grasp.
Of course
They did offer tangible benefits to Great Qin.
The Heavenly Court had indeed cast plagues and disasters upon Qin, and the Buddhist sect possessed the means to dispel them.
Clearly
While the Heavenly Court sowed calamity, the Buddhists sought to reap the spoils.
Had Great Qin been an ordinary mortal kingdom, it would have had no means to resist.
But now
The Buddhist sect's plans were nothing but a joke.
"Feng'er."
"What did you find?"
Qin Shi Huang looked at Zhao Feng.
"Father."
"Our Great Qin shall soon gain another cultivation path."
Zhao Feng turned around and smiled.
"You mean you obtained this bald donkey's cultivation method?" Qin Shi Huang glanced at Fa Lin, who was still grinning foolishly on the ground.
"Buddhist cultivation, immortal cultivation they are merely different roads leading to the same goal."
"Since our Great Qin has stepped into the great era of cultivation, we must embrace all paths."
"Immortal cultivation values spiritual roots, Buddhist cultivation values wisdom roots, and martial arts value bone structure."
"But from this day forward, Great Qin must establish one ironclad rule"
Zhao Feng's gaze swept across the court, his tone solemn.
Under Zhao Feng's gaze, every official bowed their heads and knelt.
"The people of Great Qin shall revere only imperial authority, not immortals or Buddhas."
"In Great Qin's lands, there shall be no temples to gods or saints only tombs honoring our fallen warriors."
"Great Qin shall respect the heavens and the earth
But not the so-called celestial deities who claim to represent them."
Zhao Feng's voice was resolute and unwavering, echoing through the grand court.
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