"Whether he is still around, I do not know. But I heard the State Preceptor cultivates a technique called the 'Eight-Nine Spirit Refining Soul Splitting Method,' which allows one to divide the spirit soul and manifest dozens of avatars."

"The Eight-Nine Spirit Refining Soul Splitting Method?"

Zong Shou felt a sense of familiarity and searched his memories. In a short while, he found something.

The archives of the Cangsheng Dao contained records of this technique. It was utterly perverse, allowing the spirit soul to be partitioned into several, even dozens of parts.

Each part was an independent entity, possessing its own distinct personality, yet interconnected with the others.

In a way, that 'Chong Xuan' was no longer the original Chong Xuan. Yet, he could inherit the latter’s memories.

This evil art was one of the inheritances of the Qi Refiners, a profound technique even more bizarre than those of the Demonic Sects.

There were even recorded instances where those who split their souls ended up slaughtering each other.

Legend claimed that when mastered to its extreme, this method could split the soul into seventy-two avatars.

Of course, the consequence of mass division of the primordial soul was the complete forfeiture of any possibility of advancing to the Saint Realm or the Ultimate Realm.

Thus, even among the Qi Refiners, very few practiced it. Even those who did usually only split one or two primordial souls at most.

If that were the case, then this Chong Xuan might indeed still be alive. But the question was whether the split souls would suffer the backlash of the Heavenly Dao?

"If that is the case, then this Great Shang State Preceptor has not only acquired the legacy of the Qi Refiners, but most likely inherited the orthodox lineage of some ancient powerhouse—"

Zhang Huai’s brow furrowed even deeper: "We originally thought this person was merely an ordinary master of esoteric arts. Now it seems he is anything but simple. His assistance to Great Shang suggests his ambitions are far from small."

Ancient Qi Refiners believed that all things possessed 'Qi,' which could be utilized: the Qi of Righteousness, the Qi of Kingship, the Qi of the Divine Path, the Qi of Slaughter, the Qi of Life, the Qi of Death—all could be harnessed for cultivation. Therefore, the lifespans of Qi Refiners were often much longer than those of ordinary cultivators. However, their paths ranged from the righteous to the wicked; there were maniacs given to wanton slaughter, and there were men of virtue and honor.

Thus, 'Qi Refiner' was merely a general term, and they never coalesced into an established sect.

"Speaking of Qi Refiners, one figure must be mentioned. Back then, Emperor Qin, in his search for immortality, dispatched Xu Fu with three thousand youths to the Outer Regions to seek the Penglai World for the Elixir of Immortality."

Zhang Huai paused here, deep in thought: "Before the fall of the First Qin, the Qi Refiners were on the verge of extinction; all great cultivators above the Saint Rank perished. Only this one man, far removed from the Cloud Realm, managed to survive. This individual was once capable of suppressing the Dragon Shadow Saint Venerable by half a measure. If he is still alive, he might well be an Ultimate Realm Saint Venerable by now."

Xu Fu?

Zong Shou knew of this person. Back when the Qin Emperor scoured the land for means of eternal life, seizing cultivators and demanding elixirs and techniques.

Disciples of the Daoist School and the Cangsheng Dao had their sects and feared no Qin Emperor. The rogue cultivators, however, suffered greatly.

Qi Refiners mostly lived in isolation and could not withstand the armies of the First Qin, its numerous experts, or the Twelve Bronze Men.

Those who had the foresight fled the Cloud Realm, afraid to return.

But not all escaped. Many were captured by the First Qin. Several core figures among the Qi Refiners who had achieved significant cultivation did not avoid capture.

After the First Qin’s collapse, the spiritual tide in the Cloud Realm dimmed. The competition for resources among the various schools intensified. The survival of rogue cultivators became increasingly arduous, leading to the complete extinction of the Qi Refiners.

Among the peak Saint Realm experts of the Qi Refiners at that time, only Xu Fu brought forth an ancient legend: that there was a Penglai World in the Outer Regions containing an elixir of immortality that, while not granting eternal life, could extend one's lifespan by ten thousand years.

The second Ultimate Realm Saint Venerable of the ancient human race, Chi Songzi, achieved his Dao through this very medicine.

The Qin Emperor believed it to be true, and the account of Chi Songzi was indeed recorded in the historical annals. Just as he claimed, he dispatched three thousand youths to follow, along with several Saint-Rank experts under his command to monitor them.

However, once Xu Fu left, he never returned, and the youths and Saint-Rank cultivators accompanying him vanished entirely.

It was said this man was multi-talented, with unparalleled aptitude for cultivation, gaining renown even before Dragon Shadow.

His dedication to the Dao surpassed that of Kun Ming or Wei Xu. If he had not perished, he might truly have reached the Ultimate Realm.

Would he be the twelfth Ultimate Realm expert in this domain?

Within this region, there were perhaps fifty known and famous Ultimate Realm Saint Venerables. However, there were many more who lived in seclusion, unknown to the world.

And what Zhang Huai implied was that Chong Xuan might have inherited the lineage of this Xu Fu?

"Though the Qi Refiners have vanished from the Cloud Realm, they have not been entirely exterminated. Your Majesty should remain cautious in the future. However, our Great Qian embraces all schools impartially, unlike the Confucianists or Daoists who are exclusionary. The possibility of winning them over is greater than that of our rivals—"

Zhang Huai smiled, appearing relieved of his worries.

"Furthermore, concerning the Qin Emperor's Tomb, Zhang Huai's background is actually rooted in the lineage of the Ghost Valley School of Diplomacy and Strategy. He is not well-informed about this First Emperor's Tomb. It is even uncertain whether the Twelve Nation-Guarding Bronze Men are within it. If Your Majesty wishes to know the details, the only way is to locate one or two inheritors of the Mohist and Qi Refiner lineages."

Zong Shou’s eyes flashed with sharp light. He had no direct contact with Qi Refiners; only Kong Rui, who borrowed the fate of Great Qian for his cultivation, had a slight connection to them.

But speaking of Mohist lineage, he did indeed have someone within his domain.

This person was likely still in the Tianfang World, forging the sword embryo needed for his Second Primordial Spirit, as well as Ye Xuan's sword.

He wondered if it was finished yet? He held great anticipation for that wisp of 'Innate Purple Sublimity Profound Gold Qi.'

This person was likely a core disciple among the current Mohists. He wondered how much this individual knew about the First Emperor's Tomb?

Without hesitation, Zong Shou took out a Purple Gold Talisman, activating it with his spiritual sense. The talisman transformed into a crane and flew away, disappearing into the void.

The matter of the Nation-Guarding Bronze Men and the Qin Emperor's Tomb was too significant. One mistake could cause the hard-won current situation to slip through his fingers.

Therefore, Zong Shou was willing to postpone his journey to the Lu Family Sacred Court to settle this matter properly.

However, the Tianfang World was quite distant. By the time this talisman reached its destination, almost ten days would have passed. Round trip would take twenty days.

This time could be used to eradicate the Demonic Sects!

The Governor-General's Mansion of Subai was located in the main hall of the third courtyard within the compound.

Emperor Yuan Chen, Yin Yu, sat upon the main seat in the hall, his complexion extremely withered and pale.

His eyes were filled with dead grayness, utterly dimmed.

He ascended the throne at sixteen; throughout his life, he had eliminated powerful ministers, resisted external threats, and suppressed the aristocratic families. Though he had encountered setbacks, he always maintained a vigorous fighting spirit and was never truly defeated. No matter how badly he lost, he always managed to rally afterward.

But this defeat at the God-Fallen Plain had utterly crushed all his confidence and will!

Eight hundred thousand elite troops were annihilated in the Southern Border! The remaining ten million-strong army was essentially fodder for the enemy.

As the sovereign of Great Shang, he knew better than anyone that the foundations of Great Shang were already tottering, on the brink of a violent collapse.

"Holy Lord, how could that insolent brat possibly be a living Saint Lord?"

Yin Yu muttered in a near-hysterical tone. Even the destruction of his eight hundred thousand elite soldiers could not compare to the shock he felt when he saw the auspicious vision beside Zong Shou: the Qilin serving as an escort, his kingly aura soaring, dragon and phoenix intertwined.

Endless regret gnawed at his heart.

Perhaps he should never have staked everything, committing all military strength to the Southern Border.

And he certainly should not have been so confident as to choose a decisive battle at the God-Fallen Plain.

Subconsciously, he recalled the memorials submitted by Shi Yue and Jin Buhui.

Everything those two had predicted had come true.

"Your Majesty!"

Yin Yu was startled out of his self-pity. When he looked up, he saw a youth with a broad physique and a majestic, confident demeanor walking into the vast, empty hall.

Only a few maids from the Governor-General's Mansion stood on either side.

Yin Yu subconsciously recalled Chong Xuan, and the ministers he was forced to abandon.

His sorrow deepened. Was it possible that the fate of Great Shang was truly exhausted?

"Your Majesty, about two hours ago, Kong Yao broke through the Min River. The twenty legions of iron cavalry from Zong Yuan are now piercing directly toward the Henglian Mountain Range. The troops under the Commander of the Eastern Garrison, the Commander of the Eastern Pacification Garrison, and those under Wan Yan Xiongsheng have all surrendered their arms and defected."

Yin Yu’s gaze was vacant, almost failing to process the news. A moment later, his pupils contracted as he realized that nearly three million men had surrendered.

Under the system of Great Shang, a Titled General ranked just below a Grand General, holding the second highest rank, equal to a Governor-General, and commanding a million troops.

Two Titled Generals defecting meant two million troops had abandoned resistance and become Qian army prisoners.

Wan Yan Xiongsheng was one of his most trusted generals, originating from the vassal tribes. Though currently holding only the rank of Brigadier General, he had been entrusted with a crucial mission.

His seventy thousand troops were stationed to guard the Henglian Mountain Range, securing the retreat route for the Shang army.

He had no idea what methods Kong Yao employed, but this man had also surrendered, and so decisively, without even a single battle fought.

Rage surged through Yin Yu’s chest, his blood churning. He felt a sweetness in his mouth—a mouthful of blood-tinged phlegm rushed up his throat, but he forcefully swallowed it back.

If it were anyone else, it might be different, but with the surrender of Wan Yan Xiongsheng, the possibility of the Southern Border armies retreating back into the country via the Henglian Mountain Range was now minuscule, almost zero.

The supply lines were completely severed, relying entirely on the spatial artifacts of the Daoists and Confucians.

But currently, the Daoist, Confucian, and Demonic sects were overwhelmed dealing with their own crises.

And supplying food to the South would require risking being hunted down by Great Qian experts.

More importantly, how much grain was left in the national treasury of Great Shang?

Before, when he suppressed them, those factions dared not act recklessly. But now that Great Shang showed signs of decline, how much authority did his imperial decree still hold?

Could the Jiangnan region truly not be saved?

"Issue an edict to the Governor-General of the Jiangnan Navy: Effective immediately, blockade all river systems in Jiangnan! For the prefectures of Jiangnan, move the treasury assets north as much as possible. If grain cannot be moved, burn it—"

After a moment of thought, Yin Yu hesitated: "Also, issue an edict to the Prince of Liao, ordering him to proceed to the capital immediately and be designated the Crown Prince."

Shi Yue listened, his eyes brightening slightly. Truly, he was a capable ruler; even in his moment of despair, these arrangements and strategies struck at the vital points.

Great Shang could not afford internal strife now. In this time of widespread panic, establishing the succession was indeed the best course of action.

"And the Baishang Pass—"

Yin Yu’s gaze turned cold. If this crucial southern stronghold could not be held, then Great Shang was truly finished.