Chapter 291 - Could it be that I've forgotten? A Successful Breakthrough, A Potential Recruitment?

"What? Shi Zhixuan?"

"He's actually the Evil King Shi Zhixuan?"

"So he was Pei Ju all along? Heavens!"

"The Evil King hid himself so deeply!"

"Not only did he stir up storms in the Martial World, even in the Imperial Court, he refused to live a mundane life."

"The Rank 10 on the Advisor Ranking was actually taken by the Evil King of the Demon Gate."

"How will the ministers of the Nine Provinces, who hoped to make the ranking, be able to accept this?"

The Evil King Shi Zhixuan's appearance on the ranking shocked countless people across the Nine Provinces.

Especially those who had full confidence in making the ranking, they were shaken to their core.

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Sui Imperial Palace.

"How could this be? Pei Ju is actually the Evil King Shi Zhixuan?"

Yang Guang's face was full of disbelief.

Both shocked and enraged.

The Evil King Shi Zhixuan had been in front of him for so many years, and yet he hadn't sensed a thing.

If that man had attempted an assassination, he might not have been able to stop him.

Thinking of this, Yang Guang felt a wave of fear.

"How did Yuwen Tuo fail to uncover the Evil King Shi Zhixuan's true identity?"

Yang Guang was furious, wanting to lash out at Yuwen Tuo.

But then he remembered that Yuwen Tuo was currently in the Northern Song Territory.

He felt even more frustrated.

Just then, Empress Xiao Meiniang walked in.

She immediately offered her congratulations.

However, upon bringing up Shi Zhixuan's identity, the Empress surprisingly began to speak in defense of Yuwen Tuo.

"Your Majesty, when I first saw Pei Ju, Supreme Master Yu Wen happened to be present. Didn't he clearly explain Pei Ju's true identity to Your Majesty then?"

"At the time, I even specifically urged Your Majesty to treat Pei Ju with caution."

"But Your Majesty didn't take it seriously and even entrusted him with important tasks."

"In the end, he succeeded in splitting the prairie tribes into two forces, making them no longer a threat to the Sui Dynasty."

"From that moment on, I believed Your Majesty no longer cared about Pei Ju's connection to the Demon Gate."

"So, I no longer tried to stop or advise Your Majesty again."

"Regarding the Evil King Shi Zhixuan's identity, shouldn't Your Majesty have already known?"

With a hint of confusion, Empress Xiao Meiniang spoke.

Hearing this, Yang Guang looked increasingly puzzled.

Could it be that Yuwen Tuo really did tell him back then?

Why did he have no memory of it?

Perhaps at that time, he saw Pei Ju's extraordinary talent at first glance.

And so, moved by admiration for talent, he promoted him beyond normal rules and gave him great responsibilities.

Thus, he chose to feign ignorance of his Demon Gate background, turning a deaf ear and blind eye.

As time passed, he simply forgot.

That damned Evil King Shi Zhixuan! All the cultivation he gave him was wasted!

Just a white-eyed wolf who can never be raised well!

"By the way, Your Majesty, quickly take a look at the National Fortune Heaven Dao Reward!"

"Whether or not Pei Ju is actually the Evil King Shi Zhixuan, he is still someone from our Sui Dynasty."

"The Heaven Dao Reward should logically feed back into the Sui Dynasty's National Fortune."

"As Emperor, Your Majesty should clearly sense the changes in the National Fortune."

Empress Xiao Meiniang asked with much anticipation.

An increase of 5%, though not much, was still somewhat useful.

For the Sui Dynasty's current situation, at least it provided some relief.

"Empress, this really is a strange sensation!"

"Could this be the feeling of National Fortune increasing?"

Yang Guang quietly concentrated for a moment, then opened his eyes with excitement.

"I've heard that National Fortune can help reduce the occurrence of natural disasters within a domain."

"Even the probability of powerful cultivators and geniuses appearing increases greatly."

"The stronger the National Fortune, the stronger the domain becomes in the future."

"Congratulations, Your Majesty. As long as National Fortune continues to rise, one day, Your Majesty may truly unify the Nine Provinces."

"And become the true Emperor of all under heaven!"

"Hahaha, good! What the Empress says is right! The Sui Dynasty might truly prevail in the future!"

"Hmph, that Ying Zheng, that Li Shimin, that Zhu Houzhao, compared to me, they are nothing!"

"In the future, the title of the Lord of the Nine Provinces shall be mine!"

Hearing Xiao Meiniang's words, Yang Guang looked proud and spirited.

As if he had already conquered all rival domains and become the Lord of the Nine Provinces.

Beside him, Empress Xiao Meiniang simply shook her head.

Hopeless.

The last thread of hope she once had in him was now completely gone.

It looked like she had to rely on herself.

She must prepare her own escape route.

Placing her hopes on Yang Guang would be far too foolish.

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Sui Dynasty Territory.

On a remote mountain peak.

The Evil King Shi Zhixuan didn't linger in Star Valley.

After receiving the Heaven Dao Reward, he immediately sought out a secluded location.

To resolve his issue of spiritual dissociation.

This issue had kept him trapped at the bottleneck of the Heavenly Human Realm for many years.

No matter what he did, he couldn't break through.

But now, with the Heaven Dao Reward, he was confident he could solve it.

Sitting cross-legged atop a massive boulder on the mountain summit.

His eyes were shut.

Mystical auras radiated outward.

Mysterious and terrifying.

A frightening energy began to spread.

Causing the trees, grass, and flowers nearby to shatter into fragments.

Turning into dust, drifting away with the wind.

Boom!

A shocking surge of power erupted.

"I did it. As expected of a Heaven Dao Reward."

"The Spiritual Power Enhancement Card directly caused my mind to evolve."

"The aftereffects have been completely removed, and the bottleneck of the Heavenly Human Realm instantly shattered."

"Hmph, Buddhist Sect, no matter how hard you tried to stop me, this Evil King has still succeeded in breaking through."

"Next, it's time to settle the final scores with you all."

A flash of wicked light flickered in the Evil King's eyes.

His figure blurred and vanished, leaving behind streaks of residual shadows.

He still had unresolved matters in his heart, and it was not yet time to visit Shi Qingxuan.

Only after he resolved all his inner conflicts and stabilized his state of mind could he peacefully live together with Shi Qingxuan and his two grandsons.

==========

Tang Imperial Palace, Taiji Hall.

"Pei Ju? He's actually the Evil King Shi Zhixuan?!"

Li Shimin was also stunned by the news.

However, he didn't place too much importance on the Evil King Shi Zhixuan.

No matter how strong he was, he was still only at the Heavenly Human Realm.

He couldn't pose much threat to the Tang Dynasty.

Unless, he resumed his identity as Pei Ju, then, with his cunning, he might genuinely pose a challenge to the Tang Dynasty.

But knowing Yang Guang as well as he did.

There was no way he would continue to trust or promote Pei Ju again.

In fact, Yang Guang would now be extremely wary of him.

That being the case, Pei Ju's threat had dropped to a minimum.

What was troublesome, however, was the 5% National Fortune Heaven Dao Reward.

Having received a National Fortune reward before, Li Shimin had personally witnessed the incredible changes it brought.

It seemed that the battle between the Sui Dynasty and Tang Dynasty would become increasingly difficult.

If more of the Sui Dynasty's advisors appeared on the ranking, things would only grow harder.

"Your Majesty, I believe recruiting the Evil King Shi Zhixuan might not be a bad strategy."

"Using Shi Zhixuan against the Sui Dynasty could save the Tang Dynasty tremendous effort."

"Though the Evil King is a double-edged sword, with Your Majesty's skill in employing talents, he would never escape Your Majesty's grasp."

"In the future, he could be the sharpest blade in Your Majesty's conquests."

At this moment, Changsun Wuji hurriedly offered his counsel.

"Recruit Shi Zhixuan?"

Li Shimin frowned.

He admitted that Shi Zhixuan was indeed a genius.

Both in strength and intellect, he was top-notch.

But someone that arrogant and unruly, how could he be tamed so easily?

Even as the Emperor, he might not be enough to catch Shi Zhixuan's eye.

Just look at Yang Guang of Sui Dynasty, wasn't he toyed with like a fool?

If not for the exposure from the Golden Ranking, Yang Guang would still be kept in the dark!

"This matter will be discussed later. When Master Yuan returns, I will consult him in detail."

Shaking his head, Li Shimin decided to take the cautious route.

A single misstep could push the Evil King Shi Zhixuan to become an enemy of the Tang Dynasty.

That was a result he absolutely did not want.