In the Brahma Sound Pure Land, the Supreme Sage Ruler Yao Guang was currently seated cross-legged on a meditation mat. Her face was as beautiful as the full moon, her skin like congealed jade. In terms of appearance alone, she was not considered a great beauty among the ten Sage Rulers.
However, Yao Guang had an elegant and noble bearing, with the air of a venerable mother to all under Heaven.
At this moment, her brow was gently furrowed as she listened with a faint smile to the voice transmitted by Han Yue using a secret method.
"Elder Sister, Fan Li has returned. He did not reveal my assassination attempt, perhaps conveying some form of goodwill..." After Sage Ruler Han Yue finished speaking, she struggled to maintain her usual icy beauty demeanor. But her heart was pounding erratically.
After all, from the Pure Land's perspective, Fan Li was an enemy, not a friend. Her words and actions amounted to making excuses for the enemy.
"Little Sister Han Yue, do not worry," Sage Ruler Yao Guang's voice was as gentle and kind as a mother's.
"I promised you last time that as long as Fan Li does not actively provoke us and works for the welfare of the people of Great Chu, the Pure Land can let him off the hook."
"Thank you, Elder Sister!" Han Yue exclaimed joyfully.
She looked towards Yao Guang with reverence, as if grateful on Fan Li's behalf for the other's magnanimity. In fact, besides generosity, Han Yue could even sense a motherly warmth.
For the people?
Yes!
Fan Li's influence had permeated every profession and industry in Great Chu. With the Pure Land's strength, wiping out the entire Fan clan would not be difficult.
But what of the consequences?
Chu would inevitably descend into civil unrest, all industries grind to a halt, and the lives of the common people plunged into chaos.
The Brahma Sound Pure Land was the sacred land of righteous female cultivators, a bastion of justice and righteousness - how could they not have compassion for the people?
"Fan Li should really be thanking me!" Han Yue mused to herself.
"Although he is an unscrupulous minister, he is not beyond redemption like Dong Zhuo. If he can find his way back to the right path, I can ensure his safety for life."
Han Yue lowered her head to admire her beautiful attire. Unconsciously, she asked, "Elder Sister, does this dress make me look prettier than usual?"
Yao Guang smiled at the question. "Silly little sister, you are already a rare beauty in this world. No matter what you wear, you are extremely beautiful."
"Ah...thank you, Elder Sister, for the praise." Han Yue replied, but felt a slight pang of disappointment in her heart. What she really hoped was for Yao Guang to praise how beautiful her dress looked.
"There is one matter where I will need to trouble you, little sister," Yao Guang suddenly said.
"Please, instruct me, Elder Sister!"
"Don't be nervous, it's just a small thing." Yao Guang smiled casually. "Since you are in Peng City, you will inevitably frequently encounter Fan Li. During a convenient time, please investigate whether the divine beast that descended upon Great Chu has already been tamed by him."
"Fan Li? Tame the divine beast? How is that possible?!" Han Yue exclaimed in shock. But then she recalled that of the three divine beasts that descended, only Chu's beast had yet to reveal itself.
Thinking it over, Han Yue realized this was likely the most reasonable explanation. He had actually deceived the whole world?!
"Please rest assured, Elder Sister. I will interact more with Fan Li to see if he is hiding the divine beast," Han Yue said solemnly.
"Good, thank you for the hard work, little sister." As they spoke, Yao Guang donned a splendid silver-glinting suit of armor.
"What is this for, Elder Sister?" Han Yue asked in surprise.
"I have an appointment with three friends," Yao Guang smiled casually. "For a fight."
***
In Peng City, at the Fan Residence, Fan Li leaned against the railing of the Riverside Pavilion, admiring the mountain and water scenery. His carefree and relaxed demeanor belied the fact that this Fan Li was merely a separate body. His main corporeal form was cultivating bitterly in the Dragon God Temple.
Ever since being rid of the Heavenly Harm, Fan Li had finally experienced the joy of cultivation.
With the innate talents of the Son of Heaven, how terrifying was his cultivation aptitude?
Coupled with the effects of separate bodies and a tenfold cultivation room, it was amplified even further!
Not long ago, he had just built his foundation base. Now, he was already at the third level of the Foundation Building realm.
But these were not the key matters. There was one secret technique that Fan Li felt he must cultivate with his main body, or else risk difficulty making any progress.
The Son of Heaven Arts!
Fan Li would never forget the battle at the Weiyang Palace.
The Son of Heaven commanding the aura of all under Heaven, transforming into a giant form - just what kind of divine ability was this?
Fan Li suspected that Princess Chang Le knew the secrets of the Son of Heaven Arts. After all, when she witnessed the emperor's giant form, she did not seem nearly as shocked as he was.
In fact, Chang Le seemed to have foreseen the emperor undergoing that transformation! But the princess had left. Before departing, she still did not reveal this secret to Fan Li, clearly unwilling to divulge it.
"Chang Le also has the decree of the Son of Heaven, with the profound wisdom of an empress. It's normal for her to hide such secrets from me," Fan Li consoled himself, but still felt somewhat aggrieved.
He inquired with Wu Gang as well. Unfortunately, the beast was truly ignorant on the matter.
Finally, Fan Li wrote a letter to Lu Chunqiu, hoping the profound heritage of the Lu clan could unravel the mystery perplexing his heart.
Before long, Fan Li received Lu Chunqiu's reply letter. Originally just an attempt, he never expected to actually receive the answer!
"Duke Jin sees words as clearly as faces. The Son of Heaven Arts is called the 'Pangu Giant Body or Pangu Divine Form'.
To cultivate this divine ability requires both the decree of the Son of Heaven and reaching the Great Vehicle Realm - both conditions are indispensable.
In the past thousand years, the aura of the Son of Heaven has waned and few have entered the Great Vehicle realm, thus the 'Pangu Divine Form' has long vanished from the world, gradually forgotten by all..."
Lu Chunqiu was indeed a great scholar versed in understanding the affairs of Heaven and humanity.
In one letter spanning thousands of characters, he provided a detailed introduction of this divine ability.
The legend went:
In ancient times, Pangu opened the Heavens and established the Earth, his body transforming into all things of this world.
The sun, moon and stars, mountains and oceans, plants and trees, birds and beasts - even the pure and turbid primal breaths of creation - all originated from Pangu.
Pangu was the world itself.
The 'Pangu Divine Form' was an ability to reverse Pangu's opening of Heavens and establishing of Earth.
For any Son of Heaven ruler to reach the Great Vehicle Realm, they could command the aura of that nation, coalescing their physical form to become 'Pangu' himself.
"So this is the true reason the Son of Heaven was unmatched by any at the same realm? The sages and wise rulers of antiquity who reigned supreme and undefeated, this was the source of their invincibility?"
Fan Li's gaze gradually shifted to the end of the letter.
"The 'Pangu Divine Form' has one more limitation. This divine ability can only be manifested within the national boundaries of the Son of Heaven's domain. Step outside the borders, and the ability disappears."
Fan Li understood with dawning clarity!
Throughout ancient and modern times, establishing a new dynasty was the most difficult, while preserving an established one was easiest.
So this was the reason?
No wonder even the formidable Jiajing Emperor ultimately could not make up his mind to unify all under Heaven.
On foreign soil, facing an enemy nation's ruler in the Pangu Divine Form state, perhaps even he lacked confidence of assured victory.
The Han Emperor Liu Xie was apparently just a step away from the Great Vehicle Realm even before the Ceremony of the Three Emperors.
Clearly, Jiajing did not wish to provoke the Han Emperor into breaking through. Yet under Dong Zhuo's pressure, the Han Emperor still managed to break through in the end.
"Unless I become emperor myself, I can never cultivate the 'Pangu Divine Form'?" Fan Li muttered to himself, his expression growing strange.
"What are you mumbling about?"
A familiar voice descended from the heavens as the speaker brazenly barged into the Riverside Pavilion.
Fan Li was given a fright, especially after recognizing the newcomer's identity.
"You've come to kill me?!"
The person was none other than Sage Ruler Han Yue, dressed in a beautiful gown.