Chapter 1124: Elder Shui Restored to Full Power - In the Past, Heaven Envied Heroes; Now, Man Can Overcome Heaven!
......
The way they had bullied and marginalized the Great Han before, Lu Ding would repay tenfold and hundredfold.
To put it bluntly, the other high-ranking officials were all leaders of various kinds, holding official titles, representing the Great Han, various departments, or regions.
And Lu Ding?
Golden Badge and Silver Credentials, Great Han Special Merit Award, New City Special Envoy, the Corpse-Shattering Taishui, and the Sin of Arrogance.
Plenty of titles.
But actual official rank? Not a single one.
It was like the difference between an officer and a non-commissioned officer.
An officer, after all, was an official.
While a non-commissioned officer was a soldier.
Though it sounded somewhat unfair - Lu Ding had done so much, why was he still just a soldier?
But in reality, Lu Ding's status within 749 Bureau was even more formidable than a First-Class Sergeant Major in the military.
The key point was, he was still young.
The perfect age for fighting.
Becoming an official would be a waste.
Right now, he was also the crucial link between the Great Han and Lü Mountain.
With such an existence, he could step forward and represent both Lü Mountain and the Great Han, or step back and represent only himself.
Whoever he claimed to be, that's who he was.
He was the most suitable person for this kind of job - humiliating other sovereigns, making mountains out of molehills, and relentlessly rubbing their faces in it!
Thinking about what he was about to do, Lu Ding couldn't help but want to laugh.
Soon enough.
As the captured men, one by one, made phone calls back to their own nations.
The nature of the situation instantly changed.
[Someone from outside has come to throw their weight around, a ferocious dragon crossing the river]
[We've all been captured]
[The Profound Nether Cult has been wiped out, the Profound Nether Cult's leader has been killed, beheaded]
[Lu Ding demands that these cult leaders, Sacred Lords, and sovereigns come to the Great Han to collect the bodies immediately. If they don't show up, they'll bear the consequences. The Profound Nether Cult is a warning]
Every single one of these statements, taken alone, was earth-shattering.
Good heavens.
Nearly a hundred God-Sealing realm powerhouses captured and about to be executed - this completely shook the foundations of other nations.
Those who were already starting to get restless - the Divine Sword Holy Land's Sacred Lord, the rulers of Qi State and Lu State, and so on - fell into complete panic.
Damn it. This wasn't how the game was supposed to be played.
We were just joking around.
Don't take it seriously.
Of course, it was only in their own minds that they were joking.
Now that Lu Ding had gotten serious, now that the Great Han had gotten serious, they couldn't handle it anymore.
One by one, they rushed urgently from their respective factions and nations toward Hanjing of the Great Han.
Meanwhile.
In Hanjing.
Lu Ding brought the prisoners back aboard the Lü Mountain Flying Vessel.
After having Secretary Qiu prepare a meeting room suitable for what was about to happen, and going over the details, he then personally escorted Elder Shui back to the small courtyard.
He had originally planned to let Elder Shui sleep a bit more.
But just as he delivered him to the small courtyard.
Hey!
The old man was awake.
But he hadn't opened his eyes yet - afraid it might be an illusion.
The old injuries didn't hurt anymore!!!
His arms and legs had grown back!!!
Lu Ding called out with a smile: "Elder Shui, why don't you feel out your new parts?"
Only then did Elder Shui slowly open his eyes.
Looking at his trembling hands.
Foreign, yet familiar.
How many years had it been? These missing parts of his body - how many years had it been since he'd last seen them?
Though Elder Shui had long grown accustomed to life without parts of his body, and his combat power had gradually recovered through that adaptation.
He said it had no effect.
But whether there was truly no effect - only Elder Shui himself knew.
If he had been whole, his current achievements would definitely be far greater than they were now!!!!
Every late night, he would feel regret - if he had been sound of body, perhaps the Great Han wouldn't be where it was today.
Perhaps his threatening presence could have risen another level, making other nations even more wary.
But everything had been "if only."
Now, the "if only" had become reality!!!!
Elder Shui felt the surging power within him and laughed uproariously toward the sky: "Hahahahahahahaha........"
Stirring the winds and clouds, making heaven and earth change color.
Overwhelming power poured down upon him, and Elder Shui's cultivation advanced even further.
Watch as he formed hand seals with both hands.
"I never thought that after all these years of being forced to master single-handed seal techniques, it would turn out to be a blessing in disguise, hahahahahahaha........"
Not everyone was like Lu Ding, who could unleash spells and secret arts with a mere wave of the hand, without any casting time at all.
For ordinary techniques, Elder Shui could also release them at will.
But certain high-power things required hand seals to be performed perfectly, without any reduction in might.
And the drawback of having only one hand was always there.
So Elder Shui had painstakingly refined his one-handed techniques.
Now with both hands whole, ten fingers dancing, various secret arts and methods flowed and connected - not just multitasking two things at once, but three, even four, were no problem.
With a raise of his hands, a web of spell arts intertwined.
Not even counting this breakthrough-after-destruction advancement, Elder Shui's strength was now incomparably greater than before.
The Black-Robed Great-Grandmaster beside him observed: "Daoist Shui is truly a heaven-sent genius. Having just recovered from injury, you've already made such progress. It's truly those old wounds that held you back."
His words were not mere pleasantries.
The previous Elder Shui had been formidable, sure, but compared to the people of Lü Mountain, he was still somewhat lacking.
But the current Elder Shui?
Give him some time to reacquaint himself.
Surpassing an average Lü Mountain Deification Ninth Level powerhouse was within reach - and this was under conditions of unequal resources.
If resources were equal, Elder Shui's terror would be too pale to describe in words.
Elder Shui rose and clasped his hands in salute, speaking without a trace of dialect: "Thank you, Daoist. If you ever have any instructions in the future, Shui Zongmin will carry them out even at the cost of his life!"
The Black-Robed Great-Grandmaster returned the salute: "You're too kind, Daoist Shui. You and I are connected through Xiao Lu. He respects you, and you treat him well - that is treating our Lü Mountain well. This is a kindness."
"Lü Mountain has always distinguished between gratitude and grievance. Saying such things, Daoist, is a bit too formal."
As he spoke, the Black-Robed Great-Grandmaster produced a thread-bound ancient book from his robes: "Daoist Shui, this is a secret method of our Lü Mountain. It can refine one's cultivation and ascend to another level. I believe that with your talent, ascension is within reach. But better to be the head of a chicken than the tail of a phoenix."
"I have observed the Great Han's fortunes - there is a sign of soaring to the heavens, a true dragon breaking free from its bonds. This method is destined for you, Daoist. I hope you will accept it."
Elder Shui was not one for excessive ceremony. He accepted the secret method and turned his gaze to Lu Ding, his eyes brimming with pride in him.
Once upon a time, he had been the child needing protection.
Now, the roles were reversed - he could be the one bestowing blessings.
Truly, life is impermanent.
However, in terms of combat power, Elder Shui could still protect Lu Ding.
And he wanted to keep protecting Lu Ding.
The chosen one of the previous generation - even in old age, he remained a chosen one. The debuff that had crippled him was now removed. His - Shui Zongmin's - blade was no less sharp!
If only his injuries had healed sooner.
There would have been no need to establish ties with Lü Mountain - he had the confidence to surpass those old ancestors of Lü Mountain!
The ambition that had been on the verge of dying out now surged once more within Elder Shui's heart.
To put it bluntly, the Elder Shui before the nerf was even more ruthless than Oboi - but unlike Oboi, he would never become arrogant for a time, bullying the young lord, or repeatedly flaunting his power and scorning his ministers!
In the past, the Great Han could be said to be the young, immature lord.
It was Elder Shui who led the people, blade in hand - one hand holding up the Great Han, the other pointing his sword at all enemies, fighting tooth and nail on the bloody path forward, cutting down whoever came, slash by slash, step by step, wading through rivers of blood, treading on bones, until they clawed their way to today's position.
A pity that in the past, heaven envied heroes.
But now, man can overcome heaven!