Journey to the West: Treasure Vase of the Great Dao-Chapter 555 - 307 Farewell_2

The miraculous scene he had just witnessed was still vivid in his memory, and knowing it must be the work of the two Taoist Priests, he assumed it had been successful, and thus was eager to get an answer.

"Fortunately, we have not failed in our duty. With the help of the Immortal Chief, we have indeed completed it," Yuan Tiangang said with a smile as he bowed to him.

Li Chunfeng then handed over the Tui Bei Tu, and said softly, "The matter Your Majesty seeks is contained within this book."

Li Shimin anxiously took the book from Li Chunfeng's hands and eagerly flipped through it. The drawings inside seemed simple, yet seemed to contain endless information. He was fascinated as he looked but ultimately found nothing.

"Taoist Priests, why can I not understand this book?"

"Your Majesty, Heaven's Secret must not be divulged. We can only record it in this way; otherwise, if this humble servant were to speak out, Heavenly Thunder would take this humble servant's head," Yuan Tiangang said with a bitter smile.

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Li Shimin's face flashed with frustration, as he still hoped to obtain some information. Although the book was magical, he could not glean any information from it.

"I also know the gravity of Heaven's Secret, and dare not ask too much, but I just want to know what will happen to the Great Tang after my death?" Li Shimin lowered his expectations, and asked through gritted teeth.

Yuan Tiangang sighed softly in his heart. He had still underestimated the Emperor's nature; even knowing the harm that revealing Heaven's Secret could bring, he still asked questions.

"I also know this is a difficult matter, Your Majesty. Should Your Servant have any requests, please feel free to ask."

Now that Li Shimin had spoken to this point, how could Yuan Tiangang refuse? Otherwise, today would be the day he and Li Chunfeng would die.

So he sighed softly and said, "Not to hide from Your Majesty, by revealing Heaven's Secret today, I shall surely die soon. I only beg Your Majesty to have mercy, let my junior brother retreat to the mountains; I would be forever grateful."

Upon hearing this, Li Shimin's face showed a delighted expression, and he quickly nodded, saying, "I grant this wish. If the Taoist Priest can guide me through this maze, I will order all the people to mourn for the Taoist Priest in sackcloth and filial piety."

Yuan Tiangang waved his hand and said, "That is unnecessary. I am but an outsider; everything should be simple after my death. I hope Your Majesty will not disturb it. My junior brother has been initiated for a short while and needs to concentrate on his cultivation. He has stayed in the world only because of me. Once I am dead, I hope Your Majesty will free him to take my body back to the Taoist Sect."

"Since the Taoist Priest has said so, how can I not agree? But please, solve my confusion."

Only then did Yuan Tiangang sigh softly and say, "After Your Majesty's death, the fate of the Great Tang will prosper, but someone will replace Tang for a while, though it will not be for long before it returns to Great Tang."

At these words, Li Shimin's complexion drastically changed, his eyes imperceptibly flashing with a hint of murderous intent as he asked with a chill in his tone, "Does the Taoist Priest know who he is?"

"This person's surname is Wu, and he is already by Your Majesty's side."

Li Shimin's face took on a slight smile as he gently asked, "Could you please disclose his full name?"

Yuan Tiangang then said, "Heaven's Secret must not be revealed. Your Majesty, please do not ask further." After saying this, a stream of fresh blood burst forth, staining the ground red.

Yuan Tiangang lay on the ground, weak and soft, his breath faint. Li Chunfeng quickly rushed forward to support him, anxiously calling out, "Brother, how are you?"

Yuan Tiangang weakly shook his head and said, "By divulging Heaven's Secret, karma has retaliated; I fear I will not live more than ten days. Junior brother, you should take me back to the mountains; I wish to see our sect one last time."

Seeing this, Li Shimin sighed softly, realizing he could extract no more information. However, his mind was frantically at work, silently sifting through every person surnamed Wu around him.

"Your Majesty, since the True Dragon has already descended to this world, I hope Your Majesty will not act against Heaven. Otherwise, other True Dragons will descend, the Dragon Qi being selfish, and will massacre your descendants extensively," Li Chunfeng couldn't help but advise.

Li Shimin seemed to be awakened by his voice, turned his head to look at them, and revealed a kind smile, saying, "Do not worry, you two Taoist Priests, I have my own plans."

Seeing this, Li Chunfeng slightly shook his head. He saw a murderous intent in the Emperor's eyes and knew someone was bound to be unlucky, but Li Shimin would never guess that this True Dragon would actually be a woman.

Who would have thought? Since the Three Emperors governed and the Five Emperors established order, there has never been an Empress in all the land, no one would think in that direction.

However, he also sighed inwardly, the nature of the Human Path True Dragon is indeed extremely selfish; once involved in the struggle for the throne, they all tear off their kind facade, revealing the hideous face beneath the mask, strengthening his desire to withdraw from the world.

"I hope Your Majesty will think thrice, as divulging Heaven's Secret will surely bring misfortune upon us, and we must take our leave." Li Chunfeng said, bowing.

Li Shimin gave them a deep look. Honestly, he did not want to let these two men leave; after all, both Yuan Tiangang and Li Chunfeng were truly talented, and it would be useful to keep them close. But as he had already given his word and considering that these Cultivators had bizarre methods, forcibly keeping them could lead to unpredictable and perhaps indefensible actions.

Therefore, his face immediately adopted an extremely kind smile as he said, "You two ministers have calculated Heaven's Secret for me, naturally, I cannot mistreat you. I intended to bestow upon you the position of State Preceptor, but it seems you two Taoist Priests are determined to leave, how could I bear to go against your wishes? You may leave."

Li Chunfeng and Yuan Tiangang secretly breathed a sigh of relief, as the Emperor's mind was extremely difficult to guess, and if he suddenly turned hostile, they had no good way to respond.

Thus, Yuan Tiangang struggled to his feet and bowed to Li Shimin as a farewell to the sovereign, and then he was helped away by Li Chunfeng from the crowd.

As the two men's figures gradually receded into the distance, the smile on Li Shimin's face became extraordinarily solemn. He summoned someone and ordered, "Check on all the people surnamed Wu in the Imperial Court. I want to see the list in three days."

The man hidden in the shadow, his face not clearly visible and moving like a breeze without a sound, responded in a low voice and quietly left.

At that moment, Li Shimin said to someone behind him, "Assign someone to watch those two Taoists. See if Yuan Tiangang really will die."

There was a soft response heard from the carriage but no one was visible, while Li Shimin stood at the foot of Li Mountain, looking up at the tall mountain, his mind still echoing with the previous mystical scenes.

"It's a pity, we who are Emperors cannot cultivate. Truly a regret in life," he sighed softly, looking thoughtfully at the Tui Bei Tu left behind by Yuan Tiangang and the others.

The wind swept through the mountains and forests, roaring past, making a tremendous noise. The Emperor stood in this fierce wind, his gaze as cold as the biting winter wind, chilling to the bone.

Not long after leaving Li Mountain, Yuan Tiangang gradually straightened his body, and his breath returned to normal. It turns out that his previously dying state was all feigned.

"The nature of the Human Path Emperors is indeed inscrutable. His Majesty already harbors murderous intent," Yuan Tiangang sighed softly.

Up to this point, he could hardly believe the once seemingly enlightened sovereign could be like this; the heart of an Emperor is indeed colder than stone and cannot be warmed.

"After all, he is a man who killed his brothers. How could he be as kindly as he appears? How shall we handle this tail behind us?"

"Let him follow, if he does not see me die, I suspect our Emperor will not be able to rest peacefully. Let's die once for him to see, to spare our Taoist Sect difficulties in the future," Yuan Tiangang said quietly.

In the eyes of the person following behind, Yuan Tiangang, supported by Li Chunfeng, was moving slowly forward, and Yuan Tiangang's breath was getting weaker.