Chapter 364: Chapter 368: Guo Jia Resurrects_1
"Hou Yi, are you certain that all books in the archives are complete? Was there no damage before they were archived?" Yuan Tiangang asked solemnly. He was sure there was something terribly wrong with the "Book of the Other Shore." If the truth was not discerned, it could possibly influence the future of the Saint’s Court of the Qin Dynasty. This was his intuition, the intuition of a top-ranking astrologer.
"Lord, I stake my life that the books archived are complete, with not a word missing. But... why this book is severely damaged, I have no idea!" Hou Yi, looking at the damaged "Book of the Other Shore" with a worried face, knelt and begged, "Lord, I beg you not to punish me. I only collected the ancient books. Any damage to them has nothing to do with me!" He was scared! He was just a minor supervisor. If he was accused of damaging the ancient books, it would not only cost him his job, but he would also have to spend several years in prison.
"Get up! I am not blaming you!" Yuan Tiangang waved his hand and gently lifted Hou Yi with his power. He continued to ask, "Do you still remember the content of this ’Other Shore Sutra,’ then?" Martial Artists usually have excellent memories. With Hou Yi’s Heavenly Realm strength, as long as he carefully read a book, he could ensure it would be retained in his memory for many years. When the supervisors collected ancient books, they were required to study each one repeatedly to ensure that the book had a certain value.
"I will try to remember!" Hou Yi picked up the "Book of the Other Shore" once again. He read quietly, recalling the contents of the book, his facial expressions alternating between frowning and relaxing. Yuan Tiangang didn’t rush him. He picked up a version of the "Book of the Other Shore" collected from the common folk and sat in a chair, flipping through it, hoping to find a clue.
About an hour later, Yuan Tiangang lifted his head and looked at Hou Yi. His face had changed dramatically. Hou Yi was standing ramrod straight, his face chalk-white, his lips colorless, and his pupils dilated. He looked terrifying, as if he had been struck by a Soul-Losing Spell.
"Wake up!" Yuan Tiangang bellowed, his voice like thunder.
"AH!" Startled, Hou Yi began to scream uncontrollably. He threw the "Book of the Other Shore" far away, curled up on the ground, and trembled, his eyes filled with boundless terror.
"What’s the matter?" Yuan Tiangang squatted down and asked.
"No light... not a trace... It was too dark, utterly dark..." Hou Yi didn’t answer, just kept repeating, "Too dark," as if he had suffered some kind of shock.
Yuan Tiangang’s brow creased slightly. He took out an Earth-grade ’Soul-Nourishing Pill’ and fed it to Hou Yi, shouting, "Three Souls and Seven Spirits, return!"
After swallowing the pill, Hou Yi’s condition gradually stabilized. His eyes cleared, and he panted heavily, his clothes soaked with sweat.
"Lord, while I was recalling the contents of the ’Book of the Other Shore,’ the initial parts were fine. But when I tried to recall the damaged section, it felt as if I was falling into an abyss, my soul devoured by darkness. I couldn’t remember anything!" Having calmed down, Hou Yi reported, his face etched with lingering fear.
Yuan Tiangang took a deep breath and murmured to himself, "There must be some power preventing you from recalling the book’s contents!"
"Lord, then... should I continue to try and remember?" Hou Yi asked shakily, not understanding what Yuan Tiangang meant.
"No need!" Yuan Tiangang shook his head and said with a smile, "You’ve been a great help today. Here is a pill that can assist you in reaching the Saint Realm. Go back and cultivate!"
Hou Yi was overjoyed. After receiving the pill, he quickly expressed his gratitude, "Thank you, Lord!" If he could use this pill to advance to the Saint Realm, he could become a ranked official and be responsible for a department in the archives. To him, this was undoubtedly a great gift.
After Hou Yi left, Yuan Tiangang picked up the "Book of the Other Shore" and walked toward the deepest secret chamber. He needed to perform another divination. With all clues gone, he could only use divination to understand what would happen next. Although doing so would invite a backlash from the forces of fate—damaging his lifespan at best, or causing his soul to dissipate at worst—what did it matter, for the sake of the Qin Dynasty?
「In the following period」
The sound of someone spitting blood and old, weary coughs could be heard from the secret chamber. With the Imperial Observatory at the center, an area within a thousand *zhang* radius was filled with the power of destiny, isolating it from all other forces, including the power of the Dao, the power of causality, and the power of Fortune... It was as if, for a moment, this piece of heaven and earth had vanished.
「Inside the Imperial Study」
Qin Wudao stood by the window, hands clasped behind his back. He had been holding this posture for a long time. Through the guards’ reports, he knew of the situation at the Imperial Observatory.
"Your Majesty, don’t worry. Perhaps Lord Yuan is just performing a simple divination!" Xu Chu stood behind him, comforting softly.
"A simple divination? How could it cause such a great commotion? Even standing here in the Imperial Palace, I can feel the power of destiny!" Qin Wudao shook his head. He looked towards the Imperial Observatory, his heart filled with worry. Yuan Tiangang, oh, Yuan Tiangang, what in the world are you divining? Can you withstand such a terrifying backlash from the power of destiny?
"ROAR—" Suddenly, a dragon’s roar echoed from above the Imperial Capital. Innumerable golden lights burst forth from the Sea of Fortune, so dazzlingly bright that even Emperor-realm Martial Artists could not look directly at them.
The only one unaffected was perhaps Qin Wudao! He watched the Sea of Fortune, where the Golden Dragon of Fortune roared. Above the dragon’s head hung the Investiture of the Gods, on which Guo Jia’s name shimmered brilliantly!
Countless strands of purple Fortune converged, coalescing into a human shape. It grew more and more solid, finally forming a figure identical to Guo Jia, his eyes tightly shut.
WHOOSH! A ray of golden light shot into the human figure formed by the converged Fortune.
In that instant, half of the Qin Dynasty’s Fortune vanished. The once vigorous and lively Golden Dragon of Fortune became listless, lying motionless in the Sea of Fortune.
Immediately after, a terrifying aura enveloped the sky over the Imperial Capital. This aura was as vast as the oceans, as imposing as a great mountain range!
"This... this is Counselor Guo’s aura! But it has become so much stronger!" Li Yuanba stood atop the palace walls, gazing up at the sky with excitement, his hands, each gripping a Rattle-Drum Golden Hammer, trembling.
I can finally slack off!
「In the Deliberative Pavilion」
Zhuge Liang stretched languidly, a joyful expression on his face. But after glancing at the mountain of memorials piled beside him, a wry smile touched his lips. It seems there will be no rest today!
Counselor Guo has been revived? His Majesty’s Divine Skills are truly profound!
「In the Military Department」
A flicker of astonishment crossed Bai Qi’s usually indifferent face. He then looked towards the Imperial Palace with a gaze full of admiration.
「Inside the Imperial Study」
Qin Wudao and Guo Jia stood face to face, smiles on their lips.
"Your Majesty, it has been a long time. Is there no wine?" Guo Jia shook his empty wine flask. When he suffered the backlash from the Dao’s curse, everything on his person, including the wine in his flask, had vanished into thin air.
"Yes, of course there is!" Qin Wudao declared. "Today, all the imperial wine in the palace is yours to enjoy!" He burst into hearty laughter, the sound echoing high above the Imperial Palace.
Outside the Imperial Study, Dian Wei and Xu Chu heard the laughter. They exchanged a look and smiled, then straightened their posture and stood guard with renewed vigilance.