"No."
The minister's face was grim. "This vast righteousness, though it appears gentle, becomes violent once it enters the body. I forcefully absorbed it into my body just now, which caused all the vital energy within me to scatter. My Yuanfu almost collapsed."
This!
Zhang Yingxiong and the other four ministers looked grim.
If forcibly absorbing the vast righteousness would result in such a situation, then did they have no other options?
Thinking of this,
Everyone fell into silence.
"Let me try. My vital energy is a bit different from yours."
After a moment of silence, Zhang Yingxiong spoke.
His vital energy was not ordinary. Relying on the true qi inheritance he obtained from the Zhang family ancestral house and the power of a Azure Dragon脉 he had absorbed,
Zhang Yingxiong's vital energy was much stronger than that of an average person.
"Are you confident? If you're not confident, don't repeat the same mistake."
Hearing Zhang Yingxiong's intention to try, the others asked.
"I can't say I have absolute confidence, but I have to try. At most, I'll get injured, but if we give up now, the danger we face will be even greater," Zhang Yingxiong said solemnly.
The four ministers fell silent upon hearing this.
That was right.
The matter they were about to face was very dangerous.
If they were injured now, they still had a chance to fight back.
But if they gave up on everything now, there would be no hope at all.
Seeing everyone's silence, Zhang Yingxiong smiled calmly and stepped forward.
He directly activated the Azure vital energy within him, forcefully drawing the vast righteousness that was avoiding him into his own body.
"Come on!"
"Let me experience the power of this vast righteousness!" Zhang Yingxiong was fearless.
With the help of the Azure vital energy, a large amount of vast righteousness entered his body.
The vast righteousness immediately began to counterattack the Azure vital energy, seeming to dislike the Azure vital energy for taking the initiative to bring it into Zhang Yingxiong's body.
However!
Zhang Yingxiong's Azure vital energy was not made of mud.
The vast righteousness is strong, isn't it?
Then I'll beat you into submission!
After drawing the vast righteousness into his body, Zhang Yingxiong immediately had the Azure vital energy suppress it.
The two directly clashed within Zhang Yingxiong's body.
Pfft!
Zhang Yingxiong, whose body had become a battlefield, spat out a mouthful of blood.
But he still stood tall, continuing to control the Azure vital energy to subdue the vast righteousness.
Pfft, pfft, pfft~
As time passed, Zhang Yingxiong's body became riddled with holes.
The two types of energy fought fiercely within his body, causing Zhang Yingxiong's body to be repeatedly pierced.
"Zhang Yingxiong, you..."
"Sigh... Why bother! If you really can't do it, don't force yourself!"
"If something happens to you, we won't know how to explain it to Zhang Yang."
The four ministers looked anxious.
Zhang Yingxiong's current condition was very poor, and they couldn't help but worry.
They also dared not step forward to intervene, otherwise, Zhang Yingxiong's efforts would have been in vain.
...
Gradually,
Zhang Yingxiong could barely stand upright.
His entire aura also became weak.
He was like an old man on his last breath, who could fall with a single gust of wind.
But he still stood, persevering, determined not to stop until he had subdued the vast righteousness!
Boom!
Finally!
Zhang Yingxiong's body could no longer hold on.
Under the mutual erosion of the Azure vital energy and the vast righteousness, his body became a terrible sight.
His meridians could no longer bear it, and the vast righteousness directly left his body along the shattered meridians!
Seeing this,
The four ministers were greatly alarmed.
Just as they were about to step forward, a miraculous scene occurred.
The vast righteousness that had left Zhang Yingxiong's body suddenly returned.
Moreover, it brought back even more concentrated vast righteousness, voluntarily surging into Zhang Yingxiong's body.
"This!"
"Did Zhang Yingxiong succeed?"
"It seems so, that vast righteousness entered Zhang Yingxiong's body on its own!"
"Look quickly, this vast righteousness is helping Zhang Yingxiong repair his internal injuries!"
"Hahaha, he really succeeded!"
The four ministers cheered loudly, their anxiety turning into joy.
These elders, who had lived for many years, celebrated happily, holding hands like children on New Year's Day.
And Zhang Yingxiong, enveloped by the vast righteousness, finally tasted the sweetness after hardship, receiving the baptism and gift of the vast righteousness.
The bottleneck of the fifth star of the Yuanfu realm suddenly loosened.
He broke through to the sixth star realm in one go!
His tightly closed eyes suddenly opened, revealing a terrifying gaze that shot straight into the sky!
"Vast righteousness, nothing more than this!"
Zhang Yingxiong smiled.
He knew he had won, having successfully subdued the vast righteousness.
Zhu Zhi and the others outside also sensed the changes happening within.
They watched as the vast righteousness rapidly thinned, and their hearts rejoiced!
"Success! Someone has absorbed the vast righteousness!"
"Haha, the five ministers of the Five Dragons of China are indeed extraordinary, to actually gain the recognition of the vast righteousness."
"Our pressure will be reduced now."
Everyone was also happy, anticipating the dissipation of the vast righteousness.
An hour later.
The vast righteousness completely disappeared, having been absorbed by Zhang Yingxiong.
He walked towards Zhu Zhi and the others with full vigor, followed by the other four ministers.
"Hmm? He broke through?" Di Yi suddenly exclaimed softly.
Zhu Zhi and Zhang Yang also looked over and found that Zhang Yingxiong's realm had improved, while the other four ministers had not changed.
"It seems that all that vast righteousness was absorbed by Zhang Yingxiong just now," Di Yi said.
Zhu Zhi and Zhang Yang nodded.
"Haha, thank you for your generosity, Elder Zhu. I have fulfilled my mission," Zhang Yingxiong said with a smile.
"That is also due to Minister Zhang's extraordinary talent," Zhu Zhi shook his head, unconcerned.
"Congratulations, your strength has also improved," Di Yi said with a smile.
Zhang Yingxiong chuckled and nodded.
Having broken through to the sixth star realm, his realm was now the same as Zhang Yang's.
So, he smugly looked at Zhang Yang and raised his eyebrows.
As his father, he was finally not being overshadowed by Zhang Yang.
Zhang Yang shook his head with a wry smile.
He was helpless against his cheap father, who had too much of a masculine ego.
"Let's go. Since someone has absorbed the vast righteousness, we'll enter the underground palace to retrieve the talisman stones."
Time was pressing.
After Zhang Yingxiong successfully absorbed the vast righteousness, Zhu Zhi immediately led everyone into the underground palace.
The underground palace on the central island hid the central island's final trump card.
That was the talisman stone left behind by King Ming!
Passing through the square and entering the council hall,
Zhu Zhi moved the chair at the head of the table, allowing everyone to see the secret passage beneath the seat.
He led the way, guiding everyone down the steps into the underground palace.
The interior space of the underground palace was not large, barely accommodating about twenty people.
In the center of the underground palace was a high platform.
On the platform, a long sword radiating vast righteousness was suspended.
The appearance of the sword was exactly the same as the vast righteousness sword in the square.
"This must be the true form of King Ming's divine weapon, the Vast Righteousness Sword," Di Yi said.
He had fought King Ming before and witnessed the power of this sword.
"That's right," Zhu Zhi nodded.
"This sword is indeed the Vast Righteousness Sword. The one in the square is merely a projection of this sword."
When mentioning this sword, Zhu Zhi's face was filled with pride.
This was the divine weapon and elite weapon of their nation during King Ming's reign.
Once,
King Ming had conquered the land and achieved immortal deeds with the Vast Righteousness Sword!
However, after King Ming's demise,
This sword had been sleeping here, never to be used again.
Zhu Zhi stepped forward and stroked the Vast Righteousness Sword.
The sword body immediately emitted a humming sound.
Zhu Zhi shared the same bloodline as King Ming, and the Vast Righteousness Sword was very affectionate towards him.
"Don't worry, you'll be out of the mountain soon," Zhu Zhi smiled, comforting the restless Vast Righteousness Sword.
Then, he looked at the talisman stones beneath the Vast Righteousness Sword. He took out two and walked towards Zhang Yang and Zhang Yingxiong.
"These two talisman stones, one was left by King Ming, and the other by King Ming's commander. They are ninth-star and eighth-star respectively. Take one each," Zhu Zhi said.
Zhang Yang nodded.
Just as he was about to reach for the talisman stone left by King Ming, Zhang Yingxiong interrupted.
"I think Emperor Yi's plan just now needs a slight modification."
Hmm?
Everyone looked at Zhang Yingxiong with suspicion.
"What are your thoughts?" everyone asked.
"Heh heh, the general direction remains the same, but let me use the ninth-star talisman stone," Zhang Yingxiong said with a smile.
Now his realm was the same as Zhang Yang's, both at the sixth star realm.
According to Zhang Yang and the others, talisman stones could be inherited by those within three realms of the talisman stone's power.
Therefore,
He was now qualified to inherit the power of the ninth star.
"Give me the ninth-star talisman stone, and I'll deal with the fake emperor. Zhang Yang can then face the eighth-star Gu Congtian," Zhang Yingxiong said.
This...
Everyone was stunned.
However, after thinking about it, they understood Zhang Yingxiong's intentions.
Between facing Gu Congtian and the fake emperor, dealing with the fake emperor was clearly more difficult.
Zhang Yingxiong did not want Zhang Yang to take risks, so he was willing to bear the danger himself.
Not for any other reason.
Because he was Zhang Yang's father.
He could not stand by and watch his son be in the most dangerous situation.
"Zhang Yingxiong, although your strength is also very strong, Zhang Yang has an advantage against the fake emperor because he has your Zhang family's crystal coffin," Di Yi shook his head, disagreeing.
"The crystal coffin is not a true body after all. Even if it has an effect, it might not be significant. It's the same whether I or Zhang Yang goes," Zhang Yingxiong did not think so and directly refuted Di Yi.
He had no opportunity before, so he could only remain silent.
But now that he had broken through and had the chance to protect Zhang Yang,
Zhang Yingxiong did not want to remain silent any longer!
Zhu Zhi frowned.
Giving the ninth-star talisman stone to Zhang Yingxiong was clearly not as good as giving it to Zhang Yang.
However, he also trusted Zhang Yingxiong's character. Otherwise, they would not have saved him in the extreme west back then; they would have killed him long ago.
So, it didn't matter who received it.
As for the other four ministers of the Five Dragons of China, they shrugged.
Whoever they wanted, they wanted.
It was difficult for outsiders to interfere in the affairs between this father and son. Who could blame them for not having the qualifications to inherit the power of the talisman stone?
"I disagree."
Zhang Yang suddenly said, "Firstly, you have just entered the sixth star realm, while I have been in the sixth star realm for some time. Your overall combat power might not be stronger than mine."
"Secondly, I have more means than you and stronger vital energy. It is more appropriate for me to take the ninth-star talisman stone."
Zhang Yang had his own considerations.
He understood Zhang Yingxiong's good intentions, but the risk was too great.
If something happened, he wouldn't know how to face his mother.
"No! The ninth-star talisman stone must be given to me. If you don't give it, then let me face the fake emperor!" Zhang Yingxiong said!
"Hmph! You don't care? Can you stop being so childish?" Zhang Yang sneered.
"The fake emperor is in the ninth star realm. Even with King Ming's talisman stone, victory is not guaranteed. With your eighth-star realm, how can you fight the emperor? Don't let your heroism endanger everyone, okay?"
Instantly,
Zhang Yingxiong fell silent.
Zhang Yang, this rebellious son, had made him blush with anger, giving him no face at all.
He took a few deep breaths and said,
"Then let's fight."
"Whoever is stronger will take the ninth-star talisman stone and face the fake emperor!"
Ah?
Upon hearing this,
Zhu Zhi and the others were all stunned.
How did they start fighting amongst themselves while talking?
"Can you two calm down? What time is it, and you still want to fight?" Zhu Zhi was speechless.
"If you fight now, whoever gets injured will be in a bad state. This would be a loss for us!" Di Yi frowned.
The four ministers of the Five Dragons of China also tried to persuade them.
But Zhang Yingxiong was as stubborn as a mule and wouldn't listen!
"Fine, let's fight then," Zhang Yang agreed.
"However, to preserve our strength, let's change the way we compete."
Zhu Zhi and the others' concerns were valid.
If they fought directly, whoever got injured would be in a bad state.
"Change the way we compete? What do you want to compete with?" Zhang Yingxiong asked.
Zhang Yang was silent for a moment.
Looking at the Vast Righteousness Sword, he said,
"Both of us have obtained vast righteousness, so let's compete using the Vast Righteousness Sword."
"Each person uses the Vast Righteousness Sword and displays one move. Whoever's destructive power is stronger will take the ninth-star talisman stone to face the fake emperor!"
Compete using the Vast Righteousness Sword?
Zhang Yingxiong pondered for a moment and agreed.
"Yes, I have no objections!"
The others, hearing their method of competition, stopped trying to persuade them.
This father and son pair,
They were truly cast from the same mold.
Like mules, they couldn't be pulled back.
However, each person using a sword was acceptable.
This way, the consumption would not be too great, and they would not get injured.
Therefore, they had no objections.
The only one with a strange expression was Zhu Zhi.
"If you want to compete using the Vast Righteousness Sword, it might not be that easy, because..."