Setsuna and Dohko arrived at the Land of the Taonias Sennin's center. A towering stone pillar reached into the clouds. A Hakuryu with dim scales coiled around it.
Its dragon whiskers drooped. Golden dragon eyes held deep exhaustion.
"I already know your purpose." Hakuryu's voice was like ancient bell chimes, echoing across the summit. "Yet now, I have no strength left to assist."
Dohko's expression sharpened. "Hakuryu-sama, what exactly happened in the Land of the Taonias Sennin? How are you so weakened?"
Hakuryu sighed deeply. Dragon breath stirred the clouds and mist. "Outside, war rages. Blood soaks the earth, awakening the will of a great demon sealed here. That demon's seeping will calls his clansmen for rescue… the Witch Warriors."
Setsuna's expression changed slightly. When he arrived, he indeed saw at the foothills, the Dzungar Khanate battled the Qing army.
Hakuryu's claws dug deep into the stone pillar. "I must expend ninety percent of my strength maintaining the seal to prevent his escape."
Setsuna suddenly understood. In the side story he knew, twelve years after the Holy War ended, Hakuryu's power was stolen by that lead Taonia, Hakutaku.
Now it seemed, it was due to suppressing that great demon's influence.
Dohko urgently asked, "Hakuryu-sama, the great demon you mentioned is…?"
Hakuryu's voice suddenly grew heavy. "The ancient demon god who broke Mount Buzhou… Gong Gong."
Setsuna's pupils contracted slightly. He had faced a wisp of Poseidon's will, knowing how powerful such beings were.
Though Gong Gong had positive aspects in some myths, he dared not gamble on such a being's nature. Such great gods were best sealed for humanity's benefit.
Setsuna gravely asked, "What can we do?"
Hakuryu's whiskers trembled lightly. Ancient runes on the stone pillar lit up. "First, repel the invading Witch Warriors."
Setsuna nodded. This was only natural.
"Second, stop the external war."
Hearing this, Setsuna frowned slightly.
In his eyes, the Qing Dynasty and Dzungar Khanate's war was dogs fighting. Mutual destruction would be best.
Moreover, though he detested the Qing Dynasty, in terms of meaning, this war indeed maintained China's unity, confirming Xinjiang's status.
Setsuna pondered briefly, suddenly asking, "Hakuryu-sama, is it fine as long as blood doesn't flow into the sacred mountain?"
Hakuryu was somewhat surprised but nodded. "Indeed."
Setsuna's expression relaxed, thinking that was manageable.
He could directly use the Genro Mao Ken to control the Qing and Dzungar armies, making them counterattack the Qing, shedding blood back in the Central Plains.
As for the Dzungar Khanate, simply disband it on the spot.
…
At the Qing army camp at the Kunlun foothills, flags fluttered.
"Sir!" A staff officer hurriedly burst into the commander's tent, throat moving. "The Dzungar Khanate disbanded!"
Zhao Hui's military report fell with a clatter. "What did you say?"
"It's absolutely true!" The officer's face also held disbelief. "Amursana publicly announced the entire clan's naturalization, saying they want to join Zhonghua. Such news spread throughout the khanate can't be retracted, right?"
Zhao Hui was stunned, then laughed, clapping his hands. "Good! Good! Amursana actually has such foresight. This commander must memorialize the Emperor…"
"Report—" Another deputy general rushed in frantically, seeing Zhao Hui's smile, immediately puzzled. "Sir, why are you still laughing?"
"Hahahaha!" Zhao Hui laughed louder. "You don't know yet? The Dzungar Khanate disbanded, even wants to join Zhonghua…"
The deputy nodded. "This humble general knows."
Now Zhao Hui was confused. "Isn't this worth celebrating?"
"Ah!" The deputy stamped his foot anxiously. "But Amursana said 'Zhonghua' is the Han people's Zhonghua! He also said us Manchus are descendants of wild boar skins. He wants to trace origins, restore the Han, overthrow the Qing, counterattack the Central Plains!"
"Bastard!" Zhao Hui flew into a rage. "Amursana, a mere commoner, where does he get such audacity to restore the Han, overthrow the Qing…"
Just then, a cold wind suddenly swept through the tent.
A demonic light pierced through Zhao Hui's mind.
Zhao Hui's voice suddenly turned strange. "To restore the Han, overthrow the Qing… This commander should go first!"
The deputy stared at him in disbelief, about to scream, but the next moment his thoughts were also rewritten. "Sir is wise. Rumors long said Kangxi was Han. This is correcting chaos."
Setsuna stood in the shadows, nodding slightly.
Result-wise, directly controlling Qianlong seemed more efficient. But the waters in the Eastern lands ran too deep.
Over a dozen European pantheons crowded on that continent yet dared not come here, showing this land's threat.
So Setsuna knew he also shouldn't act too conspicuously.
…
Setsuna returned to the Land of the Taonias Sennin, reporting to Hakuryu. "Hakuryu-sama, the war has ceased."
Hakuryu slightly raised its head, whiskers lightly brushing.
Its gaze always watched Kunlun. Naturally, it knew how Setsuna stopped the war.
But it didn't mind. Those foreign peoples just couldn't die on the sacred mountain.
Setsuna took a deep breath. "Hakuryu-sama, could you instruct me in Tattoo training? Only by enhancing strength can I protect the Land of the Taonias Sennin, better resist the Witch Warriors."
Hakuryu's whiskers lightly brushed. A trace of approval shone in its golden vertical pupils. "Good."
Its claw pressed 'xu an'. A pure white natural energy cascaded like a waterfall, enveloping Setsuna. "The natural energy within your body brims like a spring. Truly suitable for training."
Setsuna closed his eyes, concentrating, sensing Hakuryu's guided natural energy flowing through his meridians.
That energy sometimes like spring breeze turning to rain, sometimes like 'jing tao pai an'. Each cycle brought subtle changes to his flesh, blood, and bones.
Hakuryu's voice echoed in his consciousness like a great bell. "Natural energy originates from heaven and earth, nurtures all things. The essence of Tattoo lies in 'inner and outer harmony'. Draw natural energy into the body as foundation, manifest the heart's image as form…"
Setsuna pondered. The heart's image he chose was naturally the phoenix.
Natural energy flowed within him, manifesting a phoenix tattoo on his back.
Under his will's control, this tattoo seemed to come alive, transforming into gauzy clothing draped over him.
Compared to a Cloth's hardness, the Tattoo was more resilient and could gradually strengthen with training.
Setsuna felt the Tattoo's wonder, his thoughts gradually diverging. 'Natural energy can manifest Tattoo. Armament Haki can transform into armor. What about Sekishiki and Dragon Ball's 'inner ki'?'
Natural energy's 'qing ling', Haki's 'gang meng', Sekishiki's 'yin sha', Inner Ki's 'zhuo re'… if these energies could solidify, his physical defense would undoubtedly reach unimaginable levels.
'Especially Sekishiki… it might manifest as soul armor!'
Compared to multiple physical defenses, his soul had no defensive means, only relying on the soul's innate strength to withstand.
If he could create soul armor, his soul would undoubtedly be much safer.