"This poor Daoist intends to use jade to ignite the fire and chant incantations, thereby expelling that monster!"
Ji Xiang pondered. The two锦衣卫 (Jinyiwei guards) were not available, but the Emperor's female consorts in the Six Western Palaces might possess jade hairpins or pendants.
Otherwise, snatching the Emperor's belt would be too outrageous.
Ji Xiang glanced at the red walls near the Six Western Palaces. These walls were exceptionally high, unlike the lower walls surrounding the Longde Hall. After all, this long corridor led to the inner palace's West Second Street. If the walls were too low, how could they prevent people from sneaking in?
But now, Ji Xiang was precisely going to scale the wall!
Great masters always tread unconventional paths!
Ji Xiang said to the two锦衣卫 guards, "Wait for me here. I will go deal with them myself!"
With that, he retreated a few steps, then sprinted, his feet thudding as he scrambled onto the wall!
The third realm of Golden Sinews and Jade Bones had already enhanced his strength. Ji Xiang was the only one who could use his cultivation power within the Forbidden City, and his strength was even greater. He stepped on the wall, stomping out a deep pit, and used the pit as a fulcrum to ascend...
Left foot on right foot, Wudang Tiyun Zong (inferior version)!
Ji Xiang flipped onto the wall, his foot landing on the yellow glazed tiles. Standing atop the high wall, he finally got a glimpse of the Forbidden City's current scenery.
Fire, a raging inferno.
The flames from the Front Three Halls had already obscured half the starry sky; the Rear Three Palaces were also engulfed in fierce flames.
And within the Six Western Palaces, there was also a blaze!
---
West First Street.
The journey from Jiaotai Hall to the entrance of West First Street had been perilous for Zhu Changluo.
"Why has Mr. Song's incense offering vanished!"
Zhu Changluo was both shocked and furious. Previously, Song Wuji had cloaked him with the incense offering of the Fire God, telling him that this would cause the fire spirits and flames in the fire zone to avoid him and not attack. Otherwise, those foolish Alians would include Zhu Changluo in their harassment.
However, less than an hour ago, the incense offering had suddenly disappeared.
Zhu Changluo felt the disappearance of the incense offering, which made him worried. It seemed there was another problem. Earlier, in the Front Three Halls, he had been helpless looking at the raging inferno.
Fortunately, due to the angry shouts of the Grand Secretaries, who invoked the nation's might, the Alians setting fires in the Front Three Halls were scolded and fled. Zhu Changluo then found a path not consumed by the flames and immediately rushed to the rear palace, bypassing the long corridor. However, he had to pass through the channels where the eunuchs usually worked, which he found deeply humiliating.
The eldest imperial son of the Great Ming, having to walk the path of a eunuch!
Everything had been going well, and now another problem had arisen!
Finally, he arrived at the entrance of West First Street and saw the three Fire Gods standing at the gate.
He had finally found his allies.
"It's you three!"
Zhu Changluo was not familiar with these three Fire Gods. In the past year, they had met only a few times. Usually, Song Wuji was responsible for communicating with Zhu Changluo and also for monitoring Emperor Wanli's movements. For this purpose, Song Wuji had possessed a eunuch attendant of Consort Zheng.
The three Fire Gods were greatly surprised to see Zhu Changluo in such a soot-covered, disheveled state.
"Your Highness, how did you end up in such a state?"
"Why is Mr. Song's incense offering gone from you?"
Zhu Changluo said angrily, "The incense offering that your Mr. Song gave me suddenly disappeared!"
"What is going on..."
The three Fire Gods exchanged glances and shook their heads.
Song Wuji was acting independently, and Zhu Changluo was his contact person. They were not on the same work team.
Now that Song Wuji had gone to kill someone, didn't Zhu Changluo know what had happened to him?
The three Fire Gods stood in place, silent, merely staring at Zhu Changluo with peculiar expressions.
The raging flames had already covered the entire area of the Six Western Palaces. West Second Street was completely blocked, and the fire formed a vast curtain.
Zhu Changluo immediately became displeased with their attitude.
"I'm asking you a question!"
He had been bullied since childhood. The Emperor did not favor him, and many in the palace did not favor him, only the ministers were willing to support him.
These Fire Gods were now also acting haughty.
This made him very unhappy.
Ignoring him, were they dead!
The more insecure and ostracized a person is, the more they harbor a fierce inner demon, which they suppress and do not release.
"What happened to Mr. Song? He said he was going to kill that little Daoist. It's already the third watch, and he hasn't returned!"
"Did he die in Longde Hall! Killed by that Daoist from Wudang?"
Zhu Changluo was extremely agitated. All the current actions were completely deviating from the plan!
Among the three Fire Gods, the white-bearded old Fire God responded:
"Lord Song went to Longde Hall. That Daoist is certainly dead. You don't need to worry. The Foundation Establishment realm is not much different from mortals. The Holy Embryo has not yet appeared. Lord Song, in his true divine form, can kill him with ease."
"He might have a miraculous method to escape death once, but he cannot escape death a second time, unless he is immortal. But how can a person be immortal?"
"Even spirits, demons, and ghosts die. There is nothing in the world that does not die. Even stones weather and decay... Of course, except for our Fire Lord, she is immortal."
Zhu Changluo took a deep breath, extremely angry, but knowing that Song Wuji could not be contacted, he asked:
"Fine, I will believe Lord Song this once!"
"When will the Fire Lord arrive? When will she be here?"
The white-bearded old Fire God replied:
"The Fire Lord will arrive at the third quarter of the Zi hour. There will be no delay. Now... she should be arriving soon."
The white-bearded old Fire God advised Zhu Changluo:
"Please wait here for a moment. The Fire Lord will appear before you."
"Emperor Wanli's wrath is growing amidst this raging inferno. When the Fire Lord arrives, and you appear then, Emperor Wanli's wrath will reach its peak. With this, the Fire Lord will use Emperor Wanli's corpse to give birth to the Unburning Karma Fire."
"All the common people of Shuntian will offer three long sticks of incense towards the Forbidden City. Once the Unburning Karma Fire is born, you will be the new Emperor of the Great Ming. You, carrying Emperor Wanli's corpse, will be enthroned as the new Emperor by the ministers, and the Unburning Karma Fire will help you lead the Great Ming to a new golden age."
Zhu Changluo took a deep breath and slowly calmed down. Hearing the three Fire Gods speak of the Unburning Karma Fire, he murmured:
"The Unburning Karma Fire, three thousand zhang high, born from the Emperor's wrath, combined with the Emperor's soul, the Great Ming's national prestige, the populace's incense offerings, and guided by the Taiyin Sacred Fire."
"Then, the wrath of all people will converge, causing the fire seed to grow vigorously, capable of burning away all worldly afflictions. Thus, everyone will respect each other, the world will have no more wars, the people will offer incense, the gods will submit, and under the heavens, the Great Ming's dynasty will last forever."