Son-in-law Heaven Emperor Xiao Yi

Xiao Yi wore a serene smile and said, "A national pillar? How does that compare to Wudi, the unparalleled war king?"

Emperor Qian was taken aback.

Yang Zun and the other two also exchanged puzzled glances.

Emperor Qian said in a deep voice, "Xiao Yi, both the national pillar and Wudi, the unparalleled war king, are the cornerstones of the Great Qian Dynasty. There is no distinction between strong and weak, high and low!"

"Equal footing?" Xiao Yi asked.

Emperor Qian grunted once, then nodded his head.

The power and strength that Wudi, Yang Yuhuan, wielded in the military were so great that even Emperor Qian regarded him with immense wariness.

That's exactly why...

Wudi had the capital to stand on equal footing with the national pillar.

Xiao Yi said solemnly, "Since that's the case, I'll take on this identity of the national pillar!"

The corner of Emperor Qian's mouth twitched slightly.

Who knows how many people dream of becoming the Great Qian Dynasty's national pillar, yet to Xiao Yi it seems like it's being forced upon him, with him even appearing somewhat troubled?

This made Emperor Qian feel quite indignant!

And yet, he was powerless!

After all, who can argue when someone's talent is so strong, to the point where even Yang Zun, the old ancestor, personally took the initiative to recruit him as the Great Qian Dynasty's national pillar? Even if Emperor Qian wanted to oppose, it would be of no use!

Looking at Emperor Qian, Yang Zun said in a deep voice, "Hua Long, it's up to you to reward Xiao Yi with the title of national pillar!"

"Rest assured, ancestor, in half a month's time, it will be the Ancestral Worship Grand Ceremony. I will announce Xiao Yi as the national pillar then!" Emperor Qian nodded, bowing respectfully to Yang Zun as he spoke.

"Good!"

Yang Zun was very satisfied with Emperor Qian's arrangement and said with a smile, "The Ancestral Worship Grand Ceremony is a solemn and grand event for our royal family, second only to the imperial succession. Announcing Xiao Yi as the national pillar at that time is indeed appropriate. Xiao Yi is the first national pillar in the history of the Great Qian Dynasty who is not of royal blood. Isn't Xiao Tianjiao touted as the strongest genius in the history of the Great Qian Dynasty? Let's call Xiao Yi's title 'Wudi'!"

Xiao Tianjiao is known to be the strongest genius, but he is solely focused on the martial path, caring little for the rise and fall of the Great Qian Dynasty.

Yang Zun had Xiao Yi inherit the title of 'Wudi'.

This was also a slap in the face to Xiao Tianjiao!

With this thought...

Emperor Qian said with a smile, "Understood!"

Yang Zun turned to Xiao Yi and said, "Xiao Yi, once you become the national pillar, all your treatments will be on par with ours. You have already broken through to the Tao Tribulation Realm Peak, and with your talent, the Dharma Manifestation Realm is likely not far off. Have you thought about what to manifest as your life-bound Dharma aspect?"

The strength of a Dharma aspect directly affects a practitioner's power in the Dharma Manifestation Realm and their future potential for growth!

Xiao Yi shook his head and replied, "I do not have a target yet!"

Yang Zun said solemnly, "We three have some insights into the Dharma Manifestation Realm. Would you like to hear them?"

Xiao Yi was startled; although he did not know the true strength of the three, he could sense that their abilities were much stronger than Yang Yuhuan's. Their understanding of the Dharma Manifestation Realm was definitely invaluable experience. He bowed to the three and said, "I would be grateful for any teachings the three ancestors are willing to impart!"

Yang Zun glanced at Yang Zheng and the others, and they all nodded at the same time.

Whoosh!

The four of them waved their hands simultaneously.

Amid a blaze of glowing light, four Dharma Aspects appeared behind them.

The one behind Yang Zun was the most peculiar: it was a towering ancient tree.

The immense canopy spread like the top of a cloud, covering the sky and shading the sun. The leaves rustled as if alive, an impressive and fearsome sight!

Yang Bingtian's Dharma Aspect was a square bronze seal swirling with dragons and tigers, as large as a mountain, hovering above his head with a solemn and majestic presence.

Yang Zheng's Dharma Aspect was a winding river, with roaring waters that seemed to merge into a vast deluge.

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Behind Emperor Qian was a Dharma Aspect in the form of a full-bodied crimson Chi Dragon with a pair of wings on its back and a solitary horn atop its head. Its eyes held such a condensation of evil Qi that one glance seemed to draw the onlooker deep into its abyss.

Xiao Yi's gaze swept past the Dharma Aspects manifested by each person.

Among them, Emperor Qian's Ironwing Chi Dragon was the most terrifying. Merely the profoundness of its night-like eyes deterred anyone from meeting its gaze. Its aura was so intense that, even compared with Yang Zheng and Yang Bingtian, who were of higher cultivation, it was in no way inferior. Only when compared with Yang Zun would it be suppressed by the towering tree Dharma Aspect behind him.

This was the reliance of the Dharma Manifestation Realm, the power of the Dharma Aspect!

The stronger the object of contemplation, the greater the power of the Dharma Aspect.

This Ironwing Chi Dragon was a high-tier sixth-grade demon beast, equivalent to the presence of the Dharma Manifestation Realm Peak. The fact that Yang Zun's towering tree Dharma Aspect could suppress the Dharma Aspect of the Ironwing Chi Dragon meant it was definitely no ordinary object.

Yang Zun, noticing Xiao Yi's curiosity, said with some pride, "My Dharma Aspect is the Li Mu, a tree born from a branch of the mythic phoenix tree which, after being struck down by a heavenly god, rooted itself upon touching the ground. I found it on a hidden island in the Beast Emperor Sea, by contemplating the Li Mu to manifest my Dharma Aspect. However, when people were later sent to find the island, it could never be found again!"

Yang Zheng continued, "Dharma Aspects can largely be divided into four categories: Animal System, Plant System, Natural System, and Spiritual Object System. My Nine Bends River, for instance, was formed through contemplating great rivers, and belongs to the Natural System!"

"My Dharma Aspect is modelled after the Seventh-Grade Imperial Soldier Dragon and Tiger Seal, part of the Spiritual Object System!" Yang Bingtian chimed in with a smile.

Xiao Yi nodded; Emperor Qian's Ironwing Chi Dragon belonged to the Animal System, while Yang Zun's Li Mu belonged to the Plant System.

These were the four broad categories of Dharma Aspects, also known as the Four Great Dharma Aspects!

Speaking solemnly, Yang Zun said, "Each of the Four Great Dharma Aspects has its own merits, and the choice of Dharma Aspect also relates to the type of Nirvana one pursues in the future. Generally speaking, those who go for Physical Nirvana often choose from the Animal or Natural Systems, while those opting for Spiritual Nirvana lean towards the Plant, Spiritual, or Natural Systems. Of course, there are also some who choose to manifest from the Spiritual Object System, taking the direct path to Dharma Nirvana!"

The four of them simultaneously retracted their Dharma Aspects.

Seeing Xiao Yi deep in thought, Emperor Qian said, "Xiao Yi, your combat power is exceptional, and your ability to fight beyond your level is astonishing. You could choose the strongest attacking Animal System Dharma Aspect and pursue the path of Physical Nirvana in the future!"

Yang Zheng nodded and added, "If you decide to manifest an Animal System Dharma Aspect, I'll have Hua Long take you to observe the National Guardian Beast Ironwing Chi Dragon of our Great Qian Dynasty!"

"Thank you for your generous consideration, ancestor, but I haven't yet decided which path to take,"

Xiao Yi said, politely declining.

"Indeed, this is a decision regarding your future and requires careful consideration," Yang Zun said, pausing briefly before continuing, "Our imperial family has many Imperial Soldiers, so if you have any ideas later on, feel free to ask Hua Long."

Emperor Qian nodded at Xiao Yi.

Holding Xiao Yi in high esteem and even planning to appoint him as a pillar of state protection, Emperor Qian naturally was eager to show goodwill and attract him to his side.

"Hmm!"

Xiao Yi nodded, hesitated for a moment, then looked at Yang Zun and asked, "May I ask, ancestor, what is Xiao Tianjiao's Dharma Aspect?"