The Lord who use immortals as food

On the twentieth day of the twelfth lunar month, the sacred capital was full of people.

The figures of the people under the Zhuque Sect formed a slow and huge tide, and the boundless snow fell into the crowd like it fell into the dark sea.

The heavy snow has been falling all day and night. People from all walks of life in Chang'an City may not know about yesterday's Winter Sword Gathering, but they must have heard about today's gambling test in front of the Suzaku Gate and in front of all the ministers.

The vast Winter Sword Platform was already lined with green, crimson and purple figures, only a few more than on the day of the Great Court Meeting. They gathered together quietly, and together they formed the solemn silence on the sword platform.

Most of the swordsmen of Jianghu sects are on the outer level. Even if they have practiced swordsmanship for several years, many of them have never seen a real sword, nor have they seen the world. This kind of highly anticipated betting test is really only a lucky one. , it was only ten days away from the announcement, and it was a little far away. When I heard about it, it was already too late to rush over.

The knights who detained Shenjing had to enjoy this luck. The people holding swords and sabers talked and laughed, standing behind the sects, and occasionally tiptoed to glance at the figure standing quietly on the sword platform.

They shared their own news. Some said that the [Destiny Confucian] was already standing there at the end of the Winter Sword Collection yesterday, and there was not much snow on his body after a night; some said that Tai Chi Zheng was born in the ponds all over the city a few days ago. This is the prelude to this matter. There must be a Taoist immortal. There was also someone who excitedly described the power of heaven and earth commanded by His Royal Highness, saying that a Nanyue Mountain disciple he knew watched the [Little White Dragon] yesterday as he was passing on the inheritance without even observing the sword. With his sword drawn, he truly felt the despair covered by heaven and earth...

Of course, the most unavoidable thing to talk about is the little-known swordsman who challenged him. There is no such name in several high-sect holy places. When talking about this matter, people always count the swordsmen of the world currently in Shenjing. To predict the opponents for the Fourth Highness, they know that there are Chen Quan, a close disciple of Beihai Pulse Master, Yan Feiqing, who has been the most unshakable in recent years, and others. Although he debuted late, Yang Zhenbing carried the inheritance of the [Sword Demon] at the age of seventeen... Even looking further up, the Youdu Vein Master himself, and some even said that the Feiguang Sword Master was also detained in Shenjing.

The art of swordsmanship has flourished for thousands of years, and there are so many talented people in the world.

However, it happened to be the name "Pei Ye".

Most people are always stunned when they hear it, but if you insist on searching for the news, this person is not a completely unknown person.

Some people say that he is very close to the Jingzhao Yamen. Friends of the police say that he sometimes comes to the Yamen to eat noodles and chat with Inspector Xie. He has been assisting in several cases in the Yamen in recent months - people soon started talking about it. , Mr. Yin Di of Jingzhao, it is the Minister of Yuan who is supporting him in the court.

Some people also say that he can be seen in the Xiuwen Museum. It is unmistakable that he is named "Pei Ye", and he does always have a sword on his waist.

Some people also say that this young man seems to be still studying in the Imperial College, and he is close to Fang Jidao, who inherited Mr. Zhu's mantle. Thinking about it this way, Lord Yuan chose one of his "own people" to play this sword bet. Compare.

…

Anyway, news is always transmitted like this. When people all over the city are talking about one thing, a lot of calm information will be stirred up like sand. People chat with relish, but they don’t distinguish between true and false.

But no matter how you say it, this person does not have a distinguished teacher, nor a dazzling record. It only gives everyone a rough impression of the name that will be on the Winter Sword Stage.

When Cui Zhaoye walked forward with Jiang Yin'er and Chang Sun Jue in hand, he passed through such incessant discussions.

"Stand upright next to Taichang Qing, not daring to speak loudly." Cui Zhaoye looked back at Changsun Jue with a smile, "I need Sister Cui to rescue you."

This Imperial College girl's face did not have the same energy as hers. She had grown up in a boudoir and been raised in a study. She had never even seen a few martial arts competitions. Today's grand scene obviously shocked her. Changsun Jue looked back from time to time to look at the edge of the vast crowd, where countless more people were pouring in.

"What exactly is the power of heaven and earth?" The three of them have reached the front line. Changsun Jue looked at the figure standing quietly in the snow slightly blankly. She was dressed the warmest, with a light flower jacket covering her cloak, and a cotton hat covering her two Only the ears are covered , also put his hands in his sleeves, "I heard everyone in the Imperial College say that this Fourth Highness has been the real number one among the younger generation in Shenjing for a long time, and the power of heaven and earth is even more incomprehensible... The Cui family Sister, is that so?"

"If you are a fish and shrimp, the power of heaven and earth is water." Cui Zhaoye seems to be very cold-resistant, only wearing one more layer than Jiang Yin'er. "To put it simply, if he punches you, it is equivalent to a punch in the world." You punch; if he wants to strangle all the fish in this world, he only needs to make a fist."

"...But, I heard that classmate Pei is not allowed to use Zhenxuan." Changsun Jue frowned, "If you can't use Zhenxuan, do cultivators have any other means, or will you become completely mortal."

"Completely a mortal. There are also other powers in the world, such as the famous sword of the mind, but today we are forbidden to do anything. We only gamble on the power of the sword." Cui Zhaoye leaned on the railing and looked at her with a smile, "Pei Ye It’s no different than if you went up with a sword today, except he needs to be stronger.”

Changsun Jue had real worry on his face, frowning and looking at the sword platform: "Then how can classmate Pei win? That night in Xichi, he also used his true energy."

"You said you believed in classmate Pei." Cui Zhaoye smiled.

"I said he would definitely not lose in the sword competition - who would have thought that His Highness the Fourth Highness doesn't use a sword." Changsun Jue pursed his lips and said with slight annoyance, "Isn't this a swindle?"

Jiang Yin'er beside her was watching the stage quietly, with the light of god tied to her waist. Although Changsun Jue had not let go of her hand, she did not participate in their conversation, and her heart was still thinking about the few breaths of defeat yesterday.

It's not that she had not practiced with her master before, and the sword of the Taoist master Shenxiao was not always gentle and appropriate. The girl was actually not unfamiliar with facing the power of heaven and earth.

But the feeling of heaven and earth being present like this Fourth Prince had never appeared before.

Tianlou can certainly mobilize the huge power of heaven and earth around him, and even make heaven and earth follow his own movements to a certain extent, but the decision is still made by Tianlou himself, the human mind, and as long as he is a human, there are obstacles to knowledge and views, and there is the possibility of making mistakes.

But this Fourth Prince will not.

What the world knows is what he knows, and what the world sees is what he sees. He seems to have really merged into and controlled this world, and everything that has happened and will happen in it cannot escape his knowledge.

Even though the power he could mobilize was far from as huge as the real Tianlou, he was indeed worthy of the reputation of "invincible in the same realm", because you could not find the possibility that he would lose.

"Master Jiang, Master Jiang."

Chang Sun Jue called out twice, and the sword-wielding girl beside him in thin clothes was slightly startled and turned her head towards her.

Changsun Jue smiled and said seriously: "Master Jiang, you fought with the Fourth Prince yesterday. Have you thought of how to beat him?"

Jiang Yin'er was silent for a while and shook her head: "I used my true energy when I drew my sword yesterday, but I still couldn't see any vitality. And true energy is the most important amplification of the sword. If I stripped my true energy and only used an ordinary sword, I couldn't use many of my sword moves, let alone how to fight."

"Ah." Changsun Jue was a little disappointed, but soon said, "But Master Jiang is already very powerful. No one dares to challenge him except you."

Jiang Yin'er hurriedly bowed seriously: "Miss Changsun is the youngest person in the Imperial College who is proficient in all five classics. She is also very powerful."

Changsun Jue smiled embarrassedly.

In fact, she likes this Shenxiao Zhenchuan who was introduced to by Cui's sister two days ago. He is one year younger than her and a little shorter, but he has such a good demeanor and very strong swordsmanship.

When she was young, she liked to read all kinds of Jianghu stories. She admired Pei so much when she saw him. However, Pei was a man after all, which was against etiquette. She couldn't stick to him every day to ask about swords and Jianghu. Now she was satisfied with a girl of the same age. She almost surpassed Cui's sister and Pei to become the friend she wanted to make the most.

"Because the essence of the sword does not disappear because of the prohibition of true qi." Cui Zhaoye sighed lightly, "Of course, the rule of heaven and earth is not weakened by the addition of true qi, but "Ertian" is the challenger. Li Du proposed to ban Zhenxuan in the court that day, which gave this side the greatest degree of restraint."

Jiang Yin'er pressed the sword and said, "He is afraid."

Cui Zhaoye smiled: "Maybe, at least he is the one who cares most. The two philosophers absolutely believe in the rule of the fourth prince in their own world. But this principle itself is not wrong. What we and Pei Shaoxia pursue is indeed nothing to do with true qi."

Chang Sun Jue said: "Is it the 'sword state' you talked about that day? Did it succeed?"

Cui Zhaoye sighed lightly: "I don't know."

"Ah?"

"Xu Chuo took over later." Cui Zhaoye held his chin and said, "I reported everything about the sword state to her. She said I didn't find the key, so she can come later."

Changsun Jue's eyes lit up: "Since Mr. Xu took over personally, there should be no problem."

Cui Zhaoye frowned slightly: "Which side are you on?"

"Ah?"

"What? Don't you realize that I worked hard to accompany Young Master Pei to study for a month, but in the end, Xu Chuo took the fruits?" Cui Zhaoye rolled his eyes, "She didn't study the sword classics herself, how could she help Young Master Pei practice sword."

Changsun Jue looked at her: "Oh, then you go and talk to Mr. Xu."

Cui Zhaoye swung his calves and shut up.

She looked at the other end of the sword platform, and the two purple-robed leaders of the ministers were vaguely standing there.

...

Yuan Zhao walked past the ministers in silence for some time, and rarely heard active greetings.

The dispute has reached the eve of the most irreconcilable situation. The loser will of course fall from grace and face a brutal purge immediately. Those who were willing to put some eggs in his place in the past, looking at the Fourth Prince standing quietly on the stage today, in the depressed and tense atmosphere, it is difficult for them to raise their hands and speak.

However, when Li Du came over, he still had a lot of greetings. Of course, he was the prime minister of the Tang Dynasty, and of course, the Fourth Prince had a huge momentum, but more importantly, he was the blood of the Five Surnames after all. Even if he lost in the political struggle, the power that came with his bloodline was still solid and huge enough. Although he could no longer be the prime minister and manipulate the politics of the Tang Dynasty, he still had absolute dominance in his own solid political circle.

As the saying goes, when you are in the same strong wind, tall grass is easy to break, but big trees only lose some thin branches and leaves. More than a decade ago, Xu Ji grew taller than all the trees, but he was just a grass that was easy to break.

"Minister Yuan, the people's livelihood in the capital has been reported to the Ministry of Revenue this year. I hope the official document I submitted will be approved as soon as possible." A calm voice came from the side, and it was Di Jiu who bowed.

Yuan Zhao turned his head and nodded: "Hello, Lord Di, I have received the official document and will approve it the day after tomorrow."

"Okay." Di Jiu stood still and put his sleeves together.

The wind was cold and the snow was cold. The atmosphere among the officials was solemn. Yuan Zhao went forward and climbed two steps to the snow-covered platform. When he looked up, the clear and old figure under the big canopy was already sitting and drinking tea.

He didn't wear any warm cloak. He was wearing a straight and well-fitting purple clothes in the cold weather. A string of heavy Buddhist beads hung on his exposed thin wrist.

Yuan Zhao lowered his head and climbed up the last step, and exhaled a thin breath of white air from his mouth and nose: "Li Pushe, I heard a very good poem the day before yesterday, which said, 'Poor clothes are only worn, and the heart is worried and cheap, and the weather is cold. '.

Li Du lowered his eyes and glanced at him: "Simple and sincere, it is indeed a good poem. Fortunately, there is Yuan Shangshu in the household department and the prime minister of finance. The people of the Tang Dynasty will never be in such a situation."

Yuan Zhao came up and stood still under the canopy with his hands and sleeves: "No, since I became the minister, there have been many times when people's livelihood has been difficult. Although there have not been years of great disasters, there are still many people with poor families. This poem really makes me ashamed."

Li Du raised his eyebrows slightly: "So, Yuan Shangshu has claimed his body position to me, and wants to replace it with a capable person as the household department?"

"There are so many talented people in the world, but those who are greater than mine are hard to find." Yuan Zhaomu said.

"Hahaha."

Yuan Zhao also rarely put on a faint smile, looked at the sword platform and sighed casually: "Li Pushe carries such a warm array with him, I wonder if it can be exchanged for thousands of cars of charcoal?"

"..."

The surroundings were quiet for a while, and Yuan Zhao whispered to himself again: "I only live in the household department, so it is really difficult to save the people from fire and water."

Li Du looked at the stage with an indifferent expression: "Qilin is in the palace, the holy king is in power, and now the destiny is for the prince Zhengshuo, our powerful Tang Dynasty has fallen into a state of fire and water... Yuan Shangshu, you... It’s a bit too hasty.”

"Those whose life and death do not affect the destiny of the Tang Dynasty are not human beings." Yuan Zhao folded his sleeves and sighed softly, "Everything that can be fought for over time cannot be abandoned."

The stage was silent, and not just here, not just among the ministers. In front of the Zhuque Gate, the sound fell like a tide. Many eyes were cast on the highest stage in the east, where the bright yellow carriage had stopped. .

In fact, people are not that rare about this saint. He will stop and watch the annual martial arts competitions of the Tang Dynasty. However, most of the time, there are several canopies with attendants, and often only a vague figure in the center can be seen, but for that face People don't see much.

The same is true now. Around the throne, there are middle-ranking officials and imperial guards standing by, and there are also a few people wearing mysterious robes who are closer to each other. They are faintly visible in the drifting snow, and it is also difficult to distinguish the appearance of the Qing Dynasty.