(The reason for the late update today is the men's basketball final, I really couldn't resist watching it, so it was late when I finished writing. Also: yesterday at the end of the chapter I said four words very narcissistically and awesomely: "I am confident," and then immediately realized that I had messed up the name of the last volume. Although it was later corrected... The last volume is *Chao Tian Zi*, readers with good memory should still remember, I mentioned it before.)

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After Fan Xian descended into this world, from the time he was still a small infant, he began to learn the nameless cultivation technique said to be left by his mother. It was a thin book with yellow pages. The technique was divided into two volumes, upper and lower. Wu Zhu once told him that the upper volume was called *Ba Dao* (霸道, Tyranny), so what about the lower volume?

Only an irresponsible male nanny like Wu Zhu would so casually place this dangerous technique next to an infant. And only a monster like Fan Xian would start practicing even before he could run.

Fan Xian took naps, and more naps. Sixteen years of naps were sixteen years of quiet cultivation. Because he cherished life and feared death, his perseverance was astonishing. Even after entering the capital, his cultivation never slackened. Twenty years of diligent practice had made him so familiar with the upper and lower volumes of the nameless technique that he stopped looking at the book at the age of three, engraving it all deeply in his mind.

At the age of twelve, Wu Zhu broke through the gate of the *Ba Dao* technique with a single strike to the top of his head. Then, through the life-and-death battles of the following years, the meridians in Kyoto Lane after the Suspended Temple were shattered. During the Jiangnan trip, he conferred with Haitang, used the Heavenly One Dao natural heart method to heal his injuries, and then achieved great success. His control over the *Ba Dao* true qi had reached a near-perfect realm.

Now, he was one of the youngest ninth-rank masters in the world, but he knew that he was not a genius like Haitang or Wang Shisanlang. He was just different in that the meridians in his body were slightly different from others, and he had devoted time and energy that others could not. Heaven rewards diligence, and Fan Xian excelled in diligence.

However, he still had no way to deal with the lower volume of the nameless technique, because the true qi forging method and the running trajectory of the lower volume seemed so strange. Not to mention normal people in the world, even a little monster like him with thick and different meridians could not even begin to understand it.

Yes, he was standing in front of a treasure mountain, but he couldn't even find the road to climb it. Because the clear light on the mountain was attracting him, but to climb the mountain, he had to be forced to dig it away. Who could do that?

If the *Ba Dao* true qi needed vast meridians to support it, then the lower volume needed something even more terrifying. Whenever Fan Xian made no progress in his cultivation and was extremely disappointed, he would occasionally think that unless there were no meridians in his entire body, or to put it another way - if a person's meridians were completely open and scattered between the king's *fu* (腑, internal organs) and limbs, then it might be possible to cultivate the lower volume.

For many years, Fan Xian had been troubled by this problem, unable to find any possibility of breakthrough. Uncle Wu Zhu had never practiced true qi. He occasionally mentioned a few obscure words to Haitang in Jiangnan, but Haitang just shook her head, because this kind of true qi method required a person without meridians, which was obviously a joke.

A person without meridians was undoubtedly a dead person, so during this year, Fan Xian gradually faded the idea of cultivating the lower volume of the nameless technique. If Uncle Wu Zhu hadn't said many years ago that someone had cultivated this technique, Fan Xian would have thought that the lower volume was a terrifying joke used by the predecessors to harm people.

However, today Fan Xian clearly and shockingly felt that realm, that realm that he had never reached or even seen, seeping out from behind the curtains of Han Guang Hall and invading his heart.

If the *Ba Dao* true qi was a mountain-opening axe, then the aura within the curtains was like an electric blade held by a god. The aura was purer, more refined, more moderate, more peaceful, and more upright. It came suddenly and permeated the heavens and the earth, making people feel a sense of worship.

Fan Xian knew that he would not be mistaken, because this aura and his own *Ba Dao* true qi definitely came from the same source, only the realm was several levels higher - when a realm that he had been seeking and thinking hard for more than ten years suddenly appeared before his eyes, his body became stiff and he fell into a kind of imperceptible excitement.

In addition to excitement, he even felt a trace of fear.

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His Majesty the Emperor lifted the curtain and walked out, glanced at everyone, and said softly, "The Empress Dowager is tired, you go and wait outside the palace."

Everyone did not know what His Majesty wanted to say, and bowed to receive the decree. Only Fan Xian was still standing there somewhat blankly, looking down at His Majesty's dragon robe in a daze.

The corners of the Emperor's lips curled slightly, and he smiled. He knew that his son had noticed something. If it wasn't for this kid who had been practicing the *Ba Dao* technique since childhood, who else could have such a deep understanding and such a strong shock.

Fan Xian's dazed look at this time was actually mostly pretended, but he knew that in front of His Majesty, it was impossible to hide the shock in his heart completely. He simply let go of his defenses and naturally revealed the thoughts in his mind.

His Majesty is a Grandmaster, His Majesty has practiced the lower volume. Fan Xian knew that His Majesty knew that he could know, so he had to show his shock and fear.

The Emperor looked at him, and after a long while, he slowly said, "You go to the East Palace and wait for me. We'll talk about it later."

Fan Xian swallowed a mouthful of saliva, smiled wryly, bowed and exited Han Guang Hall. The hall was now repeating quietly, except for the Empress Dowager lying on the bed who could not utter a word and was at the end of her life, and His Majesty the Emperor sitting quietly by the bed.

The Emperor sat silently beside the Empress Dowager, gently holding her hand in his palm, and lowered his head thinking about the scene just now. That child should know and guessed. The Emperor had not intended to continue hiding these things from Fan Xian. After all, after the Battle of Mount Dong, there was no need to continue hiding, and besides Fan Xian, no one else should be able to detect the special nature of the technique the Emperor practiced.

Thinking of Fan Xian's shocked expression earlier, the Emperor's face softened, and he thought to himself that he had suffered all these years, and he always had to compensate him. It was just that regarding this technique, even if he wanted to compensate, Fan Xian would have no way to accept it.

He glanced at the Empress Dowager again, and the Emperor's face was a little dim. Just as Fan Xian had guessed, even a Grandmaster could not detect the slightest change in the old woman's body. The medicine solemnly entrusted by Fei Jie indeed had its own wonderfulness.

The Emperor sat by the bed like this, not knowing what he was thinking. After a long while, he suddenly opened his mouth and said softly, "Mother, I still have many things I want to tell you, and many glories I want to share with you..."

His hand gently held the Empress Dowager's hand, and his body was not particularly upright, but rather shrunken. Even the most ruthless person in the world would probably have some unease and sorrow in their hearts when watching their own biological mother gradually leave this world.

The faint gauze drifted in Han Guang Hall in the early autumn. The Emperor's face became paler and paler, and he held the Empress Dowager's hand tighter and tighter. A large amount of pure and righteous true qi was constantly being poured into the Empress Dowager's body.

Perhaps the realm of a Grandmaster could slow down the pace of death, or perhaps everyone had a moment of reflection before dying. The Empress Dowager's eyelids trembled slightly, and her eyeballs moved a little, seemingly about to open her eyes and wake up, but she never... opened her eyes.

The Emperor knew that this was the last time his mother could hear voices. He felt a chill in his body, and knelt down obediently by the bed, holding his mother's old hand in both hands, and put his lips to the Empress Dowager's ear, saying, "Mother, your child has not disappointed you. Ku He and Si Gu Jian are both dead. This world will eventually be Da Qing's world..."

The Emperor, like a child, affectionately and reluctantly told the Empress Dowager what had happened in her ear, and even told her the secret that he was a Grandmaster, just like a happy child telling his mother that he had scored a perfect score on today's exam.

Because he knew that his mother only had a very short time, he wanted to make her leave more happily.

However, at the end of the final farewell, the Emperor, who had always been unshakable before Mount Dong collapsed, suddenly became a little heavy, as if he was thinking about some very important problem. After pondering for a long time, he finally made up his mind and opened his mouth to the Empress Dowager's ear, saying, "Empress Dowager, twenty years ago, I listened to you. Twenty years later, I have decided to listen to myself... An Zhi is a good child."

The Empress Dowager, whose breath was gradually extinguishing and whose old body was as weak as wood, did not know if she had heard these words or understood the shocking news contained in these words, but the old Empress Dowager's body suddenly stiffened.

The Emperor frowned and turned to look at his mother's face.

The Empress Dowager suddenly opened her eyes!

However, she desperately made a *he he* sound in her throat, but because of the relaxation of her vocal cords, she could not utter a sound. The last strength of her life erupted, but it still could not break through the energy of the life limit itself and the effect of the medicine. In the end, it only turned into endless resentment, regret, and unwillingness in her eyes!

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Fan Xian walked into the East Palace, preparing for His Majesty's arrival. He knew that the scene that was about to happen was undoubtedly a father-son fratricide drama that was not uncommon in the history of the Thousand Continent. His mood could not help but feel a little cold, not only because of Li Chengqian's fate these years, but also because of the facts he had learned in Han Guang Hall earlier and His Majesty the Emperor's last sentence.

"We'll talk about it later."

A sneer appeared at the corner of his lips. So the Emperor was the one who had cultivated the nameless technique before him. So he was the most mysterious Grandmaster in the palace. No wonder he was able to return alive from Mount Dong. No wonder Hong *Gonggong* (公公, eunuch) could not be seen in the returning team.

It seemed that Hong Si Xiang's signboard had completed its historical mission. His Majesty, with the dignity of an Emperor and the strength of a Grandmaster, had turned from the role of prey to hunter at the peak of Mount Dong, coupled with Ye Liuyun. No wonder Si Gu Jian and Ku He would end up like this.

He sighed, his mood a little dim. He once again confirmed His Majesty the Emperor's cold-blooded ruthlessness. Thinking back to the year when his meridians were shattered and he almost lost his life, or at least lost all his cultivation, the Emperor had sent Hong *Gonggong* to Fan *Fu* (府, residence) to check on his injuries. With his strength as a Grandmaster, how could he not know what had happened? Especially since he himself was also a cultivator of the nameless technique...

If there was anyone in the world who could break the side effects of the *Ba Dao* technique, it would only be the Emperor, but he had never shown anything. If it wasn't for Haitang's help, he would probably be lying in bed, unable to get up for the rest of his life - thinking of this, Fan Xian's heart felt two points colder.

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"His Majesty's safe return to the palace, it seems your mood is not very good." Crown Prince Li Chengqian sat behind a clean table, looking at him with a gentle smile, sipping a sip of slightly cold leftover tea, seemingly enjoying the last moments of life.

Fan Xian forced a smile. He always felt that he had heard this sentence somewhere. It seemed that all the enemies could guess that his mood was a little bad.

"His Majesty will arrive later." Fan Xian looked into Li Chengqian's eyes.

Li Chengqian did not flinch in the slightest. Things had come to this point, and he no longer had any other ideas. Several days of confinement were enough for him to think clearly about many problems, especially the successive deaths of his mother and aunt, which made his mood as clear as a cold pool.

"Everyone will die. My mother died, and my aunt died." Li Chengqian slowly put down the teacup in his hand and looked at Fan Xian, saying, "His Majesty will always die in the future, it's just a matter of order."

Fan Xian thought for a while and said softly, "The second one is also dead."

Li Chengqian lowered his head. He was confined in the depths of the palace and had no idea what had happened in the past few days. He immediately raised his head and said with a complicated expression, "I have been fighting with him for so many years, I didn't expect that even in death we would have to compete for who goes first."

"We die first and leave first." Li Chengqian looked at Fan Xian and said, "Then wait for you."

Fan Xian smiled self-deprecatingly, knowing that each other had their own pride, and said gently, "Then you have to grab a good spot for me."

Li Chengqian waved his hand very freely and said, "It's fine to be lively when people are alive, but death is a lonely thing. Of course, you have to grab your own spot."

Fan Xian was slightly stunned and thought in his heart a sentence: "live together, die alone." When he saw this sentence in his previous life, he always felt that it was difficult to express the hidden meaning in Chinese. Recently, watching the successive deaths of countless people, and hearing Li Chengqian's words, he realized that this sentence was just the superposition of countless realities.

At this moment, Fan Xian's heart suddenly tightened. He did not know that the Empress Dowager had opened her eyes in Han Guang Hall, but subconsciously he was a little afraid to look in that direction. If the Empress Dowager really woke up, he would probably be in big trouble.

This was a fear from his heart. In the past, no matter who he faced, he had never been really afraid. But now that he knew that His Majesty the Emperor was a Grandmaster, a person standing on the two peaks of martial arts realm and worldly power, what was the difference between him and a god descending to earth?

Immediately afterwards, the bells in the palace rang with a *weng weng* sound, resounding all around. Fan Xian lowered his head and silently counted the number of bell rings, confirming the news of the Empress Dowager's death. His mood relaxed slightly, and then became empty again. Li Chengqian, who was opposite him, had completely different news. Hearing that the Empress Dowager, who loved him the most, had also left so lonely, his face was a little pale, and he said to Fan Xian in a trembling voice, "No need to see me off."

Fan Xian bowed his hands calmly and said, "Have a safe journey."

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Li Chengqian's sentence was not entirely correct. Death was indeed the loneliest thing in the world, but before death, it was often the liveliest time in the world. The old man waited for the god of death on the bed, while his relatives and descendants surrounded the bed, chattering incessantly, which was really annoying.

Today, the East Palace was also like this. Fan Xian waited outside the palace. After a long time, he heard dense footsteps. His Majesty the Emperor came to the East Palace surrounded by many people, and then entered alone.

Li Chengqian did not stand up to greet his father, nor did he hate the liveliness before death at this time. He refused Fan Xian's risky proposal, unwilling to hide his life at the ends of the earth, nor did he commit suicide by poisoning himself like the second one before His Majesty the Emperor returned. This was because he had a lot of things he wanted to say to his father. He wanted to spit out the grievances in his heart for twenty years. If he could not express them all, he was afraid that he would turn into a vengeful ghost after death.

"How will history describe this period?" Li Chengqian looked at his father, looking at this most powerful monarch in history, without a trace of fear.

When people are not afraid of death, they are no longer afraid of anything. The Crown Prince, who had made great progress in the past two years, said very directly: "I am waiting for you to come back, just to know, do you really not care about anything?"

The Emperor of Qing, dressed in casual clothes, looked at his son quietly and said, "History has always been written by the victors, and... don't you think I have something to be sorry for you?"

The Crown Prince sat behind the clean table, frowned and thought for a long time, then smiled and shook his head: "Of course not, my mother was weak, but you still made me the Crown Prince, and let me sit in this position for so many years. Of course you are worthy of me."

This was not the truth, because the strong meaning of ridicule in it was fully revealed.

The Emperor said indifferently: "Don't learn the cowardice and sour words of women."

"Cowardice? That's what you forced. You are too dazzling, no one dares to snatch your brilliance." The Crown Prince closed his eyes and said stubbornly: "I have been thinking about a question, since you never thought of passing on your power to the next generation from the bottom of your heart, why did you make me this Crown Prince?"

The Emperor's face was unusually calm, and he stared at him and said slowly: "Chengqian, you have disappointed me very much. What have I been constantly tempering you for these years?"

Li Chengqian suddenly opened his eyes and said coldly: "I am not a knife, it will break if it is sharpened too much."