- Feng Chen (Phong Tr?n) Returns and the Name of Atonement (Cái Tên C?a S? Chu?c T?i) ??
After years of relentless traveling, enduring fierce battles and tormenting remorse ??, Feng Chen (Phong Tr?n) ??? finally returned to the Imperial Palace (Hoàng Cung) of the Jade Nation (Chau Ng?c Qu?c) ?? and was granted an audience with the King (Vua), with just one hand.
The King, with a dignified but satisfied expression, spoke: "Shadow Guard Commander number 18, code number 14235, you have done well. I shall grant you one wish or one desire. Speak of what you wish; as long as it is not excessive, I will grant it."
Feng Chen, without hesitation, bowed and replied: "Your Majesty, your servant requests to leave the Shadow Guard Squad (ám B? Quan)."
The King narrowed his eyes, his voice turning cold: "Granted, but you must lie in a coffin; you must be dead to leave. Have you forgotten the oath of the Shadow Guard Squad? You know too many secrets of the Royal Family; do you think you can walk away with so many secrets? I give you a second chance, speak."
Feng Chen remained resolute, raising his head to look directly into the King's eyes: "Then, I request a name. I do not wish to be called by that meaningless number."
The King sighed, seemingly having anticipated this: "Very well, what do you wish to be called?"
Feng Chen answered clearly, without the slightest hesitation: "Please call me Feng Chen."
The King frowned, showing dissatisfaction but still conceding: "You still remember that deceased Prophet (Tiên Tri) didn't you? Very well. Feng Chen, listen to the decree!"
Feng Chen knelt down, his voice calm but full of meaning: "Your sinful servant Feng Chen receives the decree." The name, which had been linked to Noe's (Noe) false death, now became a symbol of his own atonement and rebirth.
The King looked at him with an expression of confusion but still granted a generous reward: "I grant you things you did not ask for: the position of Grand Imperial Guard (??i N?i C?n V?) exclusively tasked with protecting the Imperial Palace, permitted to wear the Golden Thread Robe, and granted free access in and out of the King's court without seeking permission. I grant you 100 m?u of land, a thousand taels of gold, and a large house with a full complement of male and female servants."
Feng Chen bowed his head: "Thank you for the King's reward. Your sinful servant Feng Chen is grateful." He accepted the new position, knowing that this was the only form of "freedom" he could have after what he had been through.
- Meaningless Prophecy for the Arrogant (L?i Tiên Tri V? Ngh?a V?i K? T? Ph?) ??
Not long after, the Grand State Preceptor (??i Qu?c S?) ??, who served as the spiritual advisor and a link to the Heavenly Dao (Thiên ??o), came to meet the King again.
Grand State Preceptor ??: "This is the decision of the Heavenly Dao, reported to Your Majesty by the Heavenly Maiden (Thiên N?). Because the King disregarded the Heavenly Dao and obstructed the Prophet's mission to announce the message, the King's kingdom will be divided and torn apart after Your Majesty's death."
The King heard this and laughed loudly, his tone full of self-satisfaction ??: "Ha ha, this prophecy is a blessing, not a calamity! I shall strive to live long, so that my kingdom may endure forever."
The Grand State Preceptor frowned, his voice full of worry: "Does the King not understand the Heavenly Dao's intent? The Heavenly Dao desires repentance and change. You must issue an edict to self-censure your crimes, admit your mistakes, and this punishment will be revoked or mitigated. Why does the King still challenge the patience of the Heavenly Dao?"
The King shook his head firmly: "I have done nothing wrong. Everything I have done is for the benefit of the country and the people, so I have nothing to repent for. On the contrary, I shall prove to the Heavenly Dao how powerful and great my kingdom will be!"
The Grand State Preceptor intended to say more: "But Your Majesty..."
The King immediately cut him off, not letting the Grand State Preceptor finish: "I recall you swore an oath of loyalty to me and my family. Is that promise still effective?"
The Grand State Preceptor spoke in a deep voice: "That promise holds value until death."
The King coldly concluded: "That is enough for me, you may leave!"
- The Tragic Golden Age (Th?i K? Hoàng Kim Bi Tráng) ??
Despite the Grand State Preceptor's warning, the Jade Nation (Chau Ng?c Qu?c), under the reign of this arrogant King, entered an unprecedentedly glorious Golden Age (Th?i k? Hoàng kim) ??.
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Not long after, the Jade Nation army flooded the Southern Barbarian Kingdom's (Nam Man Qu?c) border, and the Southern Barbarian Kingdom surrendered wherever they went. They advanced directly to the Southern Royal City (Nam V??ng Thành) and occupied more than two-thirds of the territory. The remainder was torn apart by surrounding small states, and the Southern Barbarian Kingdom completely vanished, becoming a tribe among many tribes of the Jade Nation. The territory of the Jade Nation expanded the furthest ever to the south, bringing back countless rare resources.
The Jade Nation formed a new army called the Southern Barbarian Army (Nam Man Quan), which participated in many large and small battles, conquering more cities from the Western Wolf (Tay Lang) and Northern Barbarians (B?c ??ch). The territory expanded unprecedentedly; their achievements and military exploits were recorded for thousands of generations to follow. In terms of law, everything was standardized and unchanged for many years, fair to everyone, though sometimes slightly preferential to the Royal Family (Hoàng T?c), but acceptable.
Economically, the Jade Nation expanded trade to the sea and the tribes in the south, keeping the treasury constantly full of gold and silver, and the populace warm and well-fed ??. This was the most glorious Golden Age of the Jade Nation.
- The King's Fateful End and the Inevitable Decline (Cái K?t ??nh M?nh C?a Nhà Vua và S? Suy Tàn Khó Tránh) ??
But time waits for no one. 10 years later, the King fell gravely ill, lying in bed, tired and in pain ??. He dismissed everyone, keeping only the Grand State Preceptor by his side.
The King asked, his voice filled with despair: "Why? Why can a King like me not learn the art of immortality cultivation (tu tiên) and attain eternal life? No, no, I don't need eternal life, just being like you is enough; living 200-300 years is enough! Help me!"
The Grand State Preceptor shook his head, knelt down, and said: "It cannot be done; this is the rule of the Heavenly Dao. The King is not allowed to learn immortality cultivation; this applies not only to Your Majesty but to all Kings of the Jade Nation throughout the ages."
The King, enraged, forcefully pushed the cup of medicine to the floor ??. Soldiers hearing the noise rushed in, but the King waved them away and continued, his voice full of resentment: "Why? Why? Everything in this world belongs to me! Yet, what others are allowed to do, I am not? Why?!"
The Grand State Preceptor calmly replied: "I do not know, but I believe the Heavenly Dao has its reasons. Acting against it will surely not be good."
The King flew into a rage: "Get out! Get out of my sight! Everything is the Heavenly Dao, Heavenly Dao. Is He great, but am I not?!" ??
The Grand State Preceptor quickly stood up to leave. After a few steps, he turned back, knelt, and said: "There is still one way for the King to cultivate immortality: abdicate the throne (thoái v?) and follow me to the high mountains or deep forests, then it may be possible."
The King furiously shouted: "Get out of here! Right now! Immediately!" ??
The rumor that human Kings were forbidden to learn immortality cultivation and the art of eternal life gradually spread throughout the kingdom and the cultivation world (gi?i Tu tiên), leading people to misunderstand this as a forbidden law for all human Kings. Because they did not fully understand this rule, successive Kings, whether great or small, no longer valued this school of cultivation. They secretly shifted to other types of cultivation, such as:
- Body Cultivation (Th? tu) ??, which strengthens the body. Martial Dao (V? ??o) gradually rose to prominence, replacing the Immortal Dao (tiên ??o).
- Merit Cultivation (Th?n tu) ???, providing protection and comfort for spiritual matters. People prayed to gods and Buddhas instead of seeking immortals and the Dao.
- Demonic/Ghost Cultivation (Ma tu, Qu? tu) ??, which was the shortest path to oppose the powerful Immortal Cultivation world, which monopolized resources and did not require high innate talent (Linh c?n). Kings secretly funded this research, creating an underground force right under the noses of the Immortal Families (tiên gia).
This marked the beginning of the Immortal Families' decline and decay, giving way for other cultivation paths to rise and take their place. Immortal Cities (thành ph? tiên) gradually became secret places whose locations no one knew.
The Beginning of Decline (B??c ??u C?a S? Suy Tàn)
Not long after, the King recovered from his illness, but he no longer valued the Grand State Preceptor. Instead, he relied on hundreds of Sorcerers (Thu?t S?), Folk Mages (Pháp S? dan gian), and alchemists who concocted elixirs (?an d??c) using every possible method to achieve immortality, along with countless types of elixirs and potent liquids (th?y d??c).
The King was over 90 years old, with a strong physique, rarely ill, and seldom depleted his energy on pleasures, always eating, sleeping, and resting on time. But since using these elixirs and cultivation methods, his temperament gradually changed, becoming increasingly angry. When the medicine proved ineffective, he killed hundreds of sorcerers at once. The King lived for three more years before passing away, ending the brilliant but short-lived Golden Age.
The King's son ascended the throne, a man no less excellent than his father, continuing the policies beneficial to the nation and the people. He was even personally supported by the Heavenly Maiden (Thiên N?), and his grand coronation ceremony was cheered by the masses ??. However, the new King ascended at an old age. After more than 10 years of reign, following his father's footsteps in seeking quick, effortless methods to achieve immortality, he also died a few years later. The Grand State Preceptor (??i Qu?c S?) during this time was increasingly despised, almost never summoned for an audience.