Chapter 173: Chapter 173: They Won’t Dare to Come Just Because Chu He Is Here?

"I’ve realized that while Chu He’s personal strength is immense, he’s truly unsuited for participating in the Great Xia Empire’s development strategy. The drawbacks are now becoming more and more apparent."

"Has everyone noticed why so many accounts have suddenly appeared on the Great Xia Empire’s online platforms, all dedicated to smearing Chu He? Did someone hire the Navy to deliberately manipulate public opinion?"

"This whole incident was the fault of those fans in the first place.

It’s fine for people to like a celebrity, but what Si Haowen did was detrimental to the future of the Great Xia Empire.

Under those circumstances, that mob still dared to forcibly block and surround members of the headquarters’ Defense Team who were on a mission.

After Chu He struck back at them, this group of utter fools still has the audacity to come out and cause trouble. It’s all because the higher-ups in the Great Xia Empire are too soft and lenient."

"That really is a wake-up call. I thought the online public opinion felt strange lately. So it was the Navy mixed in with everyone."

"Then you all explain this to me: why won’t Chu He agree to let our Great Xia Empire search for the Divine Ruins? When it comes to systems related to Deities, no other Empire in the world, or even all of them combined, can compare to our Great Xia Empire."

"Actually, people have been secretly searching for the Divine Ruins within the Great Xia Empire’s borders for a while, but they haven’t found a single trace.

There’s a rumor going around that it’s because Chu He came to the Great Xia Empire. They say he affected the Great Xia Empire’s divine fortune, causing the Deities to turn a blind eye and avoid us."

"Nonsense! If Chu He wasn’t protecting the Great Xia Empire, do you think the White Elephant Empire, the Lighthouse Empire, the Great Jing Empire, and the White-Red Empire would just let us be?"

"So they wouldn’t dare to come just because Chu He is here? The White-Red Empire’s bizarre combat group has already reached the Great Xia Empire’s waters. What are the higher-ups of the Great Xia Empire doing? Don’t tell me they’ve already fled in fear?"

"Hahaha, ’because Chu He is here.’ Right, right, you’ve totally won the argument."

Lately, the Great Xia Empire’s online platforms have been in chaos.

People from all walks of life flocked to the forums, and arguments erupted one after another.

Finally, a rational netizen published a post: "Chu He, I don’t know if you’ve been looking at the web recently, but if you see this, I hope you won’t be affected by all the talk. We, the true citizens of the Great Xia Empire, trust you."

In just one day, the post’s likes soared into the millions, and its views reached the hundreds of millions.

...

「Inside the Grotto-Heaven.」

’Observe the stars by night, comprehend yin and yang by day. The five elements create and overcome one another; the Nascent Soul should be in harmony with this cycle.

Wood begets Fire, Fire begets Earth, Earth begets Metal, Metal begets Water, and Water begets Wood. A repeating cycle, endless and self-perpetuating.

Using this as the foundation, I will regulate my inner breath to stabilize the Nascent Soul and prevent it from falling back into the cycle of reincarnation.’

Chu He was completely unaware of the turmoil in the outside world, his mind focused solely on breaking through to the Nascent Soul Realm.

True Qi, Heaven and Earth Energy, and Supreme Divinity—these three forces mixed together, swirling around Chu He’s body.

The figure that looked identical to Chu He, but with utterly indifferent eyes, grew more and more solid.

’It is also said that cultivation lies in the mind. A tranquil mind leads to elevated thoughts.

Abandon distracting thoughts and focus on a single point, and the Nascent Soul will grow stronger day by day, gradually entering the Transformation Realm.

At that time, flying through the sky, burrowing into the earth, moving mountains, and overturning seas will all be trivial matters.’

’The Nascent Soul is newly formed and condensed; the Spirit Platform is clear and bright.

Closing my eyes to look within, the Qi Sea churns without cease.

My heart is as calm as still water, my spirit roams the Taiqing Realm.

When a single thought arises, ten thousand dharmas flourish.’

Chu He suddenly let out a low, dignified shout.

The sound contained an undeniable power, as if it could shake the very void.

Then, the black, illusory figure, identical to him in body and face, slowly awakened in the silence.

Like a reflection stepping out of a mirror, another self, it strode toward the space opposite Chu He as if lotuses bloomed with each step.

The two sat facing each other, their postures perfectly aligned, like an overlap of a mirror world.

It exuded an indescribable state of strangeness and solemnity.

Guided by Chu He’s will, the black phantom began to slowly compress, gradually being devoured by a powerful, invisible force.

Its volume continued to shrink, the blackness growing deeper and more concentrated.

Finally, it transformed into a mere palm-sized shadow, hovering in the air and radiating a heart-stopping indifference and divine radiance.

Chu He opened his mouth, which had become like a black hole, an abyss that could seemingly devour all things in the world.

And the black shadow, without the slightest struggle, was sucked into Chu He’s body in a single breath, like a weary bird returning to its nest.

In that instant, the aura around Chu He underwent a cataclysmic change.

It was like a long-dormant volcano on the verge of its most magnificent eruption.

Inside his body, the once-surging True Qi suddenly vanished like morning mist.

In its place was the purest, most refined Power of Nature from between heaven and earth.

This power was vast and boundless, like rivers flowing into the sea or stars gathering in one place. It surged ceaselessly into Chu He’s body, every single wisp containing the profound mysteries of life and creation.

Within the grotto-heaven, the once stuffy, damp, and musty air was suddenly purified by a great, unseen force.

The dampness rapidly faded, replaced by a fresh and flourishing, vigorous Life Force.

On the grotto’s walls, the mottled marks of time’s erosion began to flake away, revealing smooth, fine rock underneath.

On the ground, tender green grass had sprouted at some unknown point.

Immediately after, tens of thousands of flowers bloomed in a riot of color, vying for splendor, their fragrance filling the air.

Green leaves also poked out, patch by patch, cluster by cluster, decorating the grotto-heaven with vibrant life, as if spring had arrived early.

’Just one more step, and I can completely stabilize the Nascent Soul.

But I have now successfully entered the Nascent Soul Realm. This power is so immense...

...it gives me the illusion that I’ve merged with heaven and earth—that I am heaven and earth, and heaven and earth are me.’

Chu He took a single step and appeared outside the grotto-heaven, amidst the verdant landscapes of Cyan Mountain.

Here, birds sang and flowers bloomed, a scene of breathtaking beauty.

Chu He felt the activity of the purest energy between heaven and earth.

A joyful expression appeared on his face. Then, with a flicker of his form, he silently departed from the area.

...

「Great Xia Empire, Royal Palace.」

"Those bastards have been showing off their military might in our waters nonstop!

It’s severely affecting the livelihoods of our Empire’s fishermen and the passage of merchant ships.

And they have the gall to claim it’s for ’training their bizarre combat group for better coordination’...

...and ’to guarantee our region’s ability to counter Evil Spirit invasions.’

In reality, it’s just a blockade against our Great Xia Empire!

The outside world is now filled with mockery directed at our Great Xia Empire.

I really want to know where on earth Chu He went, and why he still hasn’t shown himself!

Back then, so many people desperately hoped the Great Xia Empire’s leadership would research those bizarre combat weapons.

But in the end, because of a single sentence from Chu He, all those plans were canceled.

Now the drawback is obvious! Our Great Xia Empire has fallen far behind, and we can’t even mount a defense against an invasion from the pathetic White-Red Empire!"

A minister, standing in Lu Yinxing’s office, roared, unable to contain his fury.