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Xu Zhen was determined to protect Old Black, who was intent on hiding his true abilities. However, unforeseen circumstances arose when the loyal supporters of Qiang Bang Se fought desperately. When Cold Arrow launched a surprise attack, Xu Zhen felt her heart race, but unexpectedly, this Cold Arrow not only failed to kill Old Black, but instead revealed his true capabilities!
The old man who had guarded the black prison for many years now wielded a long arrow like a sword. As he faced an approaching Blade Master, he flicked the arrow, creating a blood hole the size of a finger in the center of the Blade Master's forehead. Yet, Xu Zhen could barely see how Old Black had made his move!
"Masterful!"
The people of Green Forest often say that once a swordsman reaches the pinnacle of their craft, even grass and leaves can become weapons. Xu Zhen had always thought this was mere fanciful talk, but today she witnessed it firsthand!
The blood of the Blade Master seemed to awaken Old Black's killing intent. He moved with the stillness of a maiden and the swiftness of a fleeing rabbit. This Old Black, who had been dormant like a winter insect, now awakened like a fierce lion or tiger. He walked calmly through the crowd, avoiding blades and spears, and with a simple motion, he transformed the arrow shaft into a deadly weapon!
He bore no signs of bloodshed; his expression was as calm as water, devoid of any ferocity. While those who thrived on bloodshed often appeared fierce and howled in rage, he moved like a graceful scholar beneath the pines, quietly eliminating enemies without making a sound!
Unlike Zhou Cang, whose strikes were thunderous and indiscriminate—leaving bloodshed in their wake—Old Black's methods were as gentle as spring rain nourishing the earth. His killings were akin to the soft summons of death from the King of Hell; before you died, you would feel no threat or horror!
Such methods of killing truly astonished Xu Zhen and her companions. Initially, there might be unease and fear associated with taking lives. Even someone like Xu Zhen, who had experienced countless battles, sometimes found herself hesitating and questioning whether those she killed truly deserved it.
Yet Old Black remained calm as water; for him, killing seemed as simple as walking or eating. His opponents fell without injury, often struck down in a single blow!
With Old Black joining them, the pressure on Xu Zhen and her companions significantly lessened. Wherever Old Black passed through, large areas cleared as enemies silently collapsed, as if he were an embodiment of death itself, swiftly claiming their souls while leaving behind mere shells!
Finally, Gerlqinlin arrived with his private soldiers. The crowd below began to surge against the maintaining order of the Imperial Guards. These guards dared not act against Xu Zhen, nor could they retaliate against the loyal guards of Qiang Bang Se. They could only hold back the crowd to prevent them from reaching the stage and endangering young Zanpu and several princesses.
Gerlqinlin, a rising star among the younger generation of Tuguhun, inherited great wisdom from his father Lu Dongzan and possessed formidable martial skills from the fierce and battle-hardened Tubo People. Over these years of leading troops into battle, despite his youth, he had already established an impressive reputation.
With his arrival, the forces of Qiang Bang Se could not withstand him at all. They had already been terrified by the prowess of Xu Zhen and Zhou Cang. The emergence of a killing god like Old Black further shattered their morale. By the time the renowned Gerlqinlin led his troops into battle, they had lost all will to resist.
Heart like ashes, he knew the situation was dire, but proud as he was, he could not allow himself to become a prisoner. Unlike Xu Zhen, who could remain unperturbed in Black Prison, he had committed too many sins and harbored too great ambitions. This failure was more painful to him than death.
The ceremonial spear in his hand trembled, scattering silver sparks as Qiang Bang Se rushed forward, thrusting the spear towards Xu Zhen's back!
He had come to this point entirely because of Xu Zhen. If it weren't for her, Qiang Bang Se would still be the regent Great Minister of Tuguhun. Mangsong Mangzan was still young; if he had been in power for several years, he could have consolidated all the Court's power into his hands, and his influence could have permeated all of Tuguhun. When the time was ripe, how could he not claim the throne?
However, no one expected that Xu Zhen would display a miraculous revival. In an era of fervent belief, the allure of such a miracle was more daunting than an army of a million at the gates. Now the people's hearts belonged entirely to Xu Zhen; it was nearly impossible for Qiang Bang Se to reverse the situation.
He loathed Xu Zhen to the core. Even if he could not salvage his own defeat, he had to kill her. If she could be reborn once, he did not believe she could be reborn twice!
The spear shot forth like a dragon emerging from the sea. The aging yet formidable Qiang Bang Se was still exceptional; although he had focused on political maneuvering in his later years and rarely led troops into battle, his strikes were vicious. This thrust was executed at just the right moment when Xu Zhen was catching her breath, and it seemed poised to pierce her heart!
"Clang!"
A tremendous force surged through him; Qiang Bang Se felt his arm go numb as his palm split open with blood gushing out. The spear had already been knocked away. Zhou Canghu, dressed as an Imperial Guard, widened his eyes in shock as he swung his axe with a buzzing sound, stepping on Qiang Bang Se's chest and preparing to decapitate him!
"Spare his life!"
Xu Zhen had almost fallen victim to Qiang Bang Se's ambush, but seeing Zhou Cang about to strike, she hurriedly called out to stop him. Zhou Cang spat angrily and reversed the axe blade, bringing the back of it down onto Qiang Bang Se's brow. The latter's face became a bloody mess, losing all ability to resist.
Although Zhou Cang was exceptionally brave, after years of bloodshed, he had also developed some intelligence. As they say, one becomes red by being close to vermilion and black by being near ink; having followed Xu Zhen for so long, Zhou Cang had made some progress and controlled his strength appropriately.
With Qiang Bang Se captured, his tribal guards surrendered their weapons one after another. The chaos finally subsided, and the crowd erupted into cheers as they witnessed the dust settle.
Although the Tuguhun Lords each commanded their own military forces, they held a deep respect for royal authority and maintained a consistent reverence for the legitimacy of Zanpu. Furthermore, Qizong Nongsan had cultivated a cult of personality, portraying himself as a reincarnation of a Bodhisattva. These ideas had been deeply ingrained in the hearts of the people after decades of promotion. Qiang Bang Se's attempt to usurp power was extremely unpopular.
Qiang Bang Se was filled with regret and indignation. He never expected that after enduring such perilous struggles and fighting dozens of wars among the tribal Lords, even Gerlqinlin could not defeat him. After painstakingly capturing the royal city, he was ultimately defeated by Xu Zhen in an execution.
He had intended to use this execution to incite a larger war, allowing him to rightfully claim the position of Zanpu. However, his plan backfired, giving Xu Zhen an opportunity to turn the tables.
What he did not anticipate was that Xu Zhen would manage to reverse the situation single-handedly, relying on the miraculous phenomenon of "Miracle" that had brought her back to life!
Ordinary people might blindly worship, but those in high positions had different perspectives. They initially thought Xu Zhen was merely playing with Illusion, yet her performance was so convincing that even the wise Lutongzan began to doubt whether she was indeed a Divine Child descended from Zoroastrianism.
Lutongzan was already the Chief Minister of Tuguhun and well-liked by the people. After being suppressed by Qiang Bang Se, many rallied in his support. Moreover, over a year ago, Qizong Nongsan had stated that Lutongzan should assist the new ruler and elevate his clan's honor among the Tuguhun tribes.
In such circumstances, Lutongzan was undoubtedly the best choice to clean up the aftermath. However, Qizong Nongsan was no longer alive, and the new ruler Mangsong Mangzan could barely speak coherently while drooling in Consort Tu Gu Hun's arms.
Li Wushuang held a status comparable to Princess Chizun; if strictly compared, Princess Chizun's position was slightly higher. However, in this grand setting, she had no right to speak because above her stood Consort Meng, who was highly esteemed by Qizong Nongsan.
Consort Meng was already quite old, wise to worldly affairs and respected for her virtues. With her stepping forward to announce before tens of thousands that Lutongzan would assist the new king as regent, the people naturally rejoiced.
Lutongzan first declared Qiang Bang Se's crimes and imprisoned him. Then he gathered his clan's military forces and took control of Luo Xie Royal City, with Gerlqinlin responsible for its defense. He also began to eliminate Qiang Bang Se's remaining forces.
It must be said that Lutongzan was indeed the best candidate for regent. His policies were reasonable and just, quickly stabilizing the situation in Tuguhun.
While pronouncing judgment on Qiang Bang Se, Lutongzan also made a highly popular decision: he conferred upon Xu Zhen the title of National Master of Tubo!
The term "National Master" refers to the highest title given by emperors to accomplished monks within Buddhism, initially limited to high-ranking Buddhist monks. Over time, this title became more widespread, allowing Daoist figures to also be recognized as National Masters, such as Yang Jun Song from the Tang Dynasty and Qiu Chuji from the Yuan Dynasty, both of whom were from Daoism.
However, the origin of the title "National Master" can be traced back to the Western Regions, where it was prevalent in India and various Buddha countries. A National Master is someone who comprehensively understands the Three Baskets of Buddhist scriptures and is well-versed in the Five Sciences, leading the nation to embrace Buddhism, thus earning the title.
The Tuguhun dynasty embraced Buddhism and aimed to establish it as the state religion, adopting many practices from the Western Regions. The title of National Master of Tubo should rightfully belong to a high-ranking Tuguhun Buddhist monk.
Yet, Princess Jinyang played a crucial role in turning the tide during a crisis, becoming a great benefactor and hero for both the nation and its people. After performing a miraculous act of revival, her reputation surpassed that of the new ruler, Mangsong Mangzan.
Although Lu Dongzan served as regent, the people of Tuguhun believed that Xu Zhen was undoubtedly the best choice to guide the new ruler. Therefore, when the decree to appoint a National Master was issued, it sparked an enthusiastic response.
Tuguhun initiated an unprecedented wave of Zoroastrianism devotion, with various regions spontaneously establishing Zoroastrian temples. The layout of Zoroastrian temples is relatively simple compared to the grandeur of Buddhist Treasure Halls; local villagers would gather in open spaces to set up fire altars, which could be called temples. If they could erect carved pillars and domes around them, it would further attract followers.
Princess Jinyang was pleased to accept the title of National Master of Tubo because her involvement in Tuguhun's political affairs aimed to foster good relations with Lu Dongzan and his son. She understood well what kind of military threat Tuguhun posed during Li Zhi's reign over the Tang Dynasty.
This was her bargaining chip and an important means to regain Li Zhi's trust!
As anticipated by Princess Jinyang, two months after she was appointed National Master of Tubo during Tuguhun's pacification efforts, the Tang Dynasty sent envoys once again to Tuguhun, summoning Princess Jinyang back to court!
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