The descent of the Heavenly Dao was supposed to occur twenty years later, but if someone could use some kind of "karma" to sense the descent of the Heavenly Dao in advance, then the result would be...

　　After leaving the deep palace where Consort Shang Shou was confined, Wanli still found it difficult to fall asleep even at night, and could only sit and discuss the Dao with the Celestial Master.

　　"Sensing the descent of the Heavenly Dao in advance, the origin of the Jin Ji Zi (golden hammer) is indeed unclear. This matter is beyond my capabilities. If you want to know the truth, you must ask the officials who were close to the Jiajing Emperor." The Celestial Master advised Emperor Wanli.

　　"Celestial Master, are you talking about Yan Song, Yan Shifan, Xu Jie...these people are already...."

　　Yan Song and Yan Shifan had long been beheaded. Xu Jie had also died of illness in the eleventh year of Wanli's reign. In the end, how many old officials from the Jiajing era could still be alive? Moreover, those who could get close to the Jiajing Emperor were basically good at writing Qing Ci (Taoist prayers), which is why the saying "Qing Ci Prime Minister" appeared. It was the frustrated literati who used this term to satirize those who rose to power by trickery.

　　Apart from these famous figures, others such as Li Chunfang and Guo Pu, who were good at writing Qing Ci, had also passed away. Guo Pu died the latest, but that was five years ago.

　　"They're all dead? Not a single one left?"

　　"Indeed, they are all dead. The close officials associated with the Jiajing Emperor are all dead."

　　Although the Celestial Master wanted to say that these deaths seemed like a cover-up after murder, considering the ministers' physical condition and age, no matter how they died, it was all reasonable. There was no way to investigate this matter, and no one would think there was anything wrong with it. Did people have to live to be eighty or ninety years old to be considered okay?

　　In this era where forty was considered old and decrepit, people in their eighties and nineties were considered national treasures. Even if ministers lived in comfort, living to eighty was still a luxury. Only Xu Jie died at eighty.

　　"The old ministers are all dead. The arrangements of the palaces and Taoist temples during the Jiajing Emperor's reign were completely erased by the late emperor during the Longqing era. Could this behavior also have been instructed by the Jiajing Emperor?"

　　Wanli knew that his grandfather was cunning and enjoyed playing power games with his ministers when he was on the throne. Even Yan Song and Xu Jie were just his playthings in his later years.

　　So now, even the fact that Emperor Longqing destroyed those Taoist facilities made Emperor Wanli think that perhaps this was also within the Jiajing Emperor's calculations.

　　Perhaps he arranged it for Emperor Longqing and told him to do so.

　　Or perhaps he deliberately used Emperor Longqing's aversion to these things to induce him to do so.

　　The old ministers are all dead, and the facilities are gone. All traces of the past seem to have dissipated with the wind. Apart from the ancestral tablet in the ancestral temple that once contended with the ministers and officials, and Consort Shang Shou, who is now confined in the Little Qiankun (pocket dimension), the Jiajing Emperor seems to have left nothing behind.

　　"The Jin Ji Zi and the Yu Shen Pan (jade plate), when combined, can allow one to comprehend the power of the descending Heavenly Dao in advance. Whoever obtains this power can deter the land and rivers, and may even become the key to founding the next legitimate dynasty."

　　"Where is Lingbao Tianzun (Celestial Worthy of the Numinous Treasure)?"

　　"Why should the treasure of the nation be casually handed over to ordinary cultivators?"

　　The three questions raised by Consort Shang Shou are crucial, but Emperor Wanli is currently confused.

　　"Then let's go to the ancestral temple to take a look? In front of the spirit tablet of Ruizong."

　　"Ancestral Temple?"

　　Emperor Wanli frowned.

　　Ming Ruizong, also known as Prince Xingxian, was the father of the Jiajing Emperor, and also his own great-grandfather. Originally, it was impossible for his branch to sit on the throne, but because Emperor Zhengde died suddenly and had no嫡chu(direct line) descendants, the Jiajing Emperor was adopted into the Zhengde lineage. Later, the Jiajing Emperor launched the Great Rites Controversy, which mainly revolved around conferring the title of "Emperor" on Prince Xingxian...

　　"But that was just a political struggle. Perhaps there was a dispute of wills at the beginning, after all, it is difficult for anyone to accept the matter of changing parents. The Jiajing Emperor was just a teenager at that time..."

　　What's the point of calling yourself young if you're not arrogant?

　　Later, it evolved into a political showdown between the emperor and the new gentry of the Great Rites, and the old courtiers.

　　"But, Your Majesty, please forgive my impudence..."

　　"I remember that the Jiajing Emperor had very poor bones when he was young. Later, he met a master who gave him guidance, as well as Shao Yuanjie from my Longhu Mountain, and the demon Taoist Tao Zhongwen, who refined Zuo Dao (heterodox) elixirs, so that he could change his fate against the heavens."

　　"I wonder if Your Majesty still has any impression of the spell used in this process, 'Descendant Extension Method'?"

　　Emperor Wanli thought for a moment: "Descendants, ancestral temple, grandfather..."

　　"Ten thousand generations? Bloodline? No matter who it is, as long as their bloodline, there is someone sitting on the throne..."

　　The words that followed were once spoken by the Jiajing Emperor when he entrusted himself to the Fox Dragon in the form of an incarnation. This was also an important reason for the rupture between grandfather Jiajing and grandson Wanli.

　　It doesn't matter who the emperor is, it's only important that the emperor is from this bloodline.

　　"Ancestral Temple! The Imperial Ancestral Temple, go to the Imperial Ancestral Temple now!"

　　Emperor Wanli wanted to go to the Imperial Ancestral Temple with the Celestial Master, but the Celestial Master said that the Forbidden City was newly built, and many palaces and pavilions were integrated into the Dharma Realm, but only the ancestral temple was protected by the national destiny and still maintained its past appearance. He was an outsider, so how could he go to the emperor's ancestral temple?

　　There was no other way, Emperor Wanli could only take the Jingzhen Sword (Emperor's Sword) and go by himself.

　　When the Forbidden City collapsed and ascended into the sky, even the Altar of Earth and Grain and the Imperial Ancestral Temple outside the Forbidden City, within the Imperial City, were dragged into the Dharma Realm in the high sky.

　　In the Imperial Ancestral Temple, incense smoke curled up. This was the only place in the Dharma Realm where one could see the appearance of the old Imperial City.

　　He pushed open the heavy, five-colored door.

　　The Halberd Gate.

　　The Sumeru Throne.

　　The Imperial Road Bridge.

　　The Princes' Bridge.

　　The Hall of Enjoyment. During sacrificial festivals, the spirit tablets of the many ancestral emperors would be transferred from the sleeping hall behind to this front hall for major sacrifices.

　　Finally, the Sleeping Hall.

　　However, the moment Emperor Wanli stepped into the gate of the Imperial Ancestral Temple, he was stunned.

　　The ancestral temple was originally a place to place the spirit tablets of ancestors. Compared with the petty atmosphere of the Korean ancestral temple, the Ming Dynasty's ancestral temple itself was like a replica of the Three Great Halls.

　　As an emperor, Wanli naturally had an impression of the interior of the Imperial Ancestral Temple.

　　But now, something seemed different.

　　He couldn't put his finger on what was wrong. It was normal for it to be empty, it was normal for the incense smoke to be curling up, and even the eunuchs serving here were normal.

　　They were too normal.

　　Suddenly, the Jingzhen Divine Sword vibrated, making a sound like thunder. The eunuchs suddenly showed horrified expressions, and after dozens of sword sounds, the surrounding scene began to blur.

　　Then, it gradually turned into a piece of darkness. Emperor Wanli raised his foot and realized that he was not inside the hall.

　　But outside the hall.

　　Before the threshold.

　　All kinds of scenery were things transformed between the real sleeping hall and the outer hall.

　　"Because the world has been turbulent for the past two years, I have not come to the temple to inform the ancestors. After the Dharma Realm ascended to the sky, this door has never been opened, but I didn't expect it to become like this..."

　　Sweat oozed from Emperor Wanli's forehead.

　　"Who is inside?"

　　The Sleeping Hall was pitch black. All the jade pillars and divine bricks had disappeared, like an entrance to a Dharma Realm ready to devour everything. Nothing existed. Even if illuminated by fire, its light only extended three inches in front of him.

　　The Jingzhen Sword vibrated violently, indicating that there was something abnormal in the Imperial Ancestral Temple!

　　"You came at the wrong time, actually holding that sword."

　　A deep voice came from the darkness, clearly reaching Emperor Wanli's ears.

　　"Since ancient times, two dragons do not meet. This rule has existed since the founding of the Taizu (first emperor). Since you have discovered the secret here, perhaps you will not be able to leave here alive today."

　　"However, the person 'Wanli' will continue to exist..."

　　"The borrowed life will eventually be repaid..."

　　Emperor Wanli quickly took a few steps back, held the divine sword horizontally in front of his chest, and rebuked:

　　"What kind of evil are you! Could it be that my divine sword is not sharp enough?"

　　But the darkness did not show any abnormalities, but instead became quiet.

　　After a few breaths.

　　Disordered sounds and various painful cries came from inside:

　　"Help! Who, who will save me! Come and save me!"

　　"I am the Son of Heaven of the Ming Dynasty, you cannot treat me like this! Eat him, he is also the Son of Heaven of the Ming Dynasty!"

　　"Damn it, the head, the head has been eaten...!"

　　After a burst of chaotic howling, the sounds inside disappeared again. Immediately afterwards, the heavy voice from the beginning appeared again.

　　"Wanli...Wanli...do you want to live?"

　　"Do you think you can kill me with the sword left by Jiajing?"

　　"Is this how you treat the benefactor who gave you life?"

　　Emperor Wanli's mind was struck by lightning.

　　"The master who guided Emperor Jiajing?"

　　"You dare to devour the ancestral incense in my Ming Dynasty's Imperial Ancestral Temple?"

　　"Was it you who gave the Jin Ji Zi to Emperor Jiajing?"

　　He originally wanted to investigate Consort Shang Shou's so-called arrangements in the world, and the three questions left by the Jiajing Emperor, but he did not expect to make such a terrible discovery.

　　"Jin Ji Zi...I haven't heard the name of this tool for a hundred years. Do you have doubts about it? It seems that the matter of it being able to assimilate its holder and allow the holder to 'transform into the Dao' has been discovered."

　　"Jin Ji Zi...Jin (gold), is the immortality of life, the strongest thing in the world. Buddhism has golden bodies, and Taoism has golden elixirs, all of which take the meaning of gold's luminosity, firmness, and immortality."

　　"Since ancient times, there has also been the saying that sincerity can move metal and stone."

　　"The sound of tapping it will transform the holder into the Dao, thereby opening the door to comprehending the Heavenly Dao...This thing is both mine and not mine...Its origin..."

　　The deep voice stopped halfway, then let out a piercing laugh:

　　"If you want to know, then come in!"

　　But Emperor Wanli suddenly said: "Could it be...are you one of the previous emperors? Or an ancestor of my Ming Dynasty..."

　　"Shut up!"

　　A roar suddenly erupted from the darkness!

　　"You Ming Dynasty royal descendants...all deserve to die!"

　　"I...am just transformed from 'resentment'..."

　　"Where would there be any imperial title!"