Chapter 490: Chapter 295: Chief Minister of Great Yan vs. Nan Zhou National Preceptor, Immortal Merit, The Ninth Prince Leaves the Capital
Jiangling Royal Mansion.
The Ninth Prince, Lu Yunhuang, sat in his courtyard as usual. He watched the white-robed Confucian Scholar who was gazing at the rockery and small creek before them, his eyes filled with doubt.
"Teacher, must we truly act now?"
The white-robed Confucian Scholar had his back to him. He tossed a stone into the lake, sending ripples across the surface. He said faintly, "Now is the perfect time. An opportunity like this is fleeting; once missed, it won’t come again."
"It’s like this stone. The ripples it creates happen only once. Who knows when another stone will be cast into the lake."
Xun Yu turned, a cheerful smile on his face.
"It has been half a month since Lu Mingyuan left the Capital City. Regardless of victory or defeat, this is a prime opportunity to make a move."
"If Great Yan wins, the world will fear it all the more. If Great Yan loses, its prestige will plummet. Either way, it’s a good thing for a Prince like you, who holds no real power."
Upon hearing this, Lu Yunhuang said thoughtfully, "I understand, Teacher."
"But even though my Cultivation has improved significantly and I’ve made great strides, what can I possibly accomplish in this great era?"
Hearing this, Xun Yu said playfully, "What? Have you also become attached to appearances?"
Lu Yunhuang shook his head. "Teacher, perhaps you are right. Someone like me should never have walked the bright and open Great Dao. I should have followed the path of Prince Jin."
Lu Yunhuang had clearly studied the Dao with Xun Yu for years. His state of mind and perspective had broadened, and he was no longer the invisible man who used to follow Prince Jin, Lu Guangjing.
His thoughts were extremely meticulous. He looked at his teacher and said earnestly,
"To be honest, Teacher, I initially intended to avoid Prince Jin’s shadow, to do the opposite of him in all things, because I didn’t want to become a second Prince Jin. So, for the sake of revenge, I also wanted to vie for the throne, but through legitimate means. Even after Lu Mingyuan became the Crown Prince and entered the Eastern Palace, my ambition did not die. But then, the death of Qi Xingyan and the start of the war with the Seven Kingdoms made me understand..."
Lu Yunhuang sighed. "Perhaps in an era like this, the right thing to do is to follow your teachings to the very end."
"And so?" Xun Yu frowned.
Lu Yunhuang enunciated each word, speaking his true thoughts. "My Great Dao is not necessarily confined to Great Yan."
"I will listen to you. I’ll fight my way out and leave the Capital City."
"Good."
Xun Yu nodded, a smile in his eyes. "In truth, I never tried to persuade you to leave the Capital City because I could see that your desire for the throne had not yet died. It would have been useless for me to say more. That you have now reached this enlightenment on your own is both your good fortune and your tribulation."
"As my last disciple, you should possess such ambition."
"No matter what happens in this world, you must not lose hope in it. The world will always have its dark side. While orthodox Confucian principles are pure and gentle, there are times when they are inadequate. My teachings are the answer that came into being to face precisely such situations."
Xun Yu’s tone was deep and solemn.
"Watch. An age of chaos is about to begin, where heroes will contend for supremacy. The era that belongs to me will soon arrive."
...
Great Yan Imperial Palace.
Hanlin Cabinet.
"What did you say? The Ninth Prince wants to leave the Capital City?"
As the Chief Minister of Great Yan, Chen Ke’s first reaction to this news was denial.
"How could that possibly be allowed?" Chen Ke said in a low voice.
A Hanlin Academy Scholar reported, "A white-robed Confucian Scholar is blocking the city gate. Many Three Academy Cultivators are trapped within the range of his Confucian Dao True Words, unable to take a single step."
’A white-robed Confucian Scholar? Could it be...’
Chen Ke’s pupils shrank.
"Quickly, summon Dao Lord Fuyao!"
"Yes, sir!"
Chen Ke had no time to review memorials. Tucking his hands into his sleeves, he strode out of the great hall like a shooting star and transformed into a streak of inky light, heading for the city gate.
By the time he arrived, he found an old, white-robed Confucian Scholar standing beneath the imposing city wall, blocking the way.
"The National Preceptor of Nan Zhou, Xun Yu?"
Chen Ke called out the man’s name, his expression grave.
This was the first time he had seen Xun Yu’s face.
He didn’t know if it was his real face.
It was said that Xun Yu had many clones walking the mortal world, while his true body’s whereabouts remained unknown.
But what was undeniable was that this man’s Cultivation was very high.
A hundred years ago, he was already a Saint in the Venerable Saint Realm.
His Dao Practice now was likely comparable to a Fourteenth Realm Confucian Saint.
If his true body were here, perhaps only beings like Li Sheng or Wen Sheng could suppress him.
Chen Ke had only heard Lu Mingyuan mention this person, describing him as extremely dangerous.
Two years ago, his clone had been severely wounded by the Military Saint, and the Nan Zhou Dragon Vein had been put to the torch. He had been gone for a long time.
He didn’t expect him to make a comeback.
Xun Yu stroked his beard, his gaze profound as he looked at Chen Ke. "So you’re the little doll who comprehends the Learning of the Mind. Quite impressive indeed. It’s just a pity you’re not my disciple."
"Just as I thought. After you became the Chief Minister of Great Yan, Great Yan’s Destiny has successfully propelled you into the Twelfth Realm. If I’m not mistaken, you should have already achieved ’Establishing Merit,’ one of the Three Immortalities of a Saint?"
"Truly, the younger generation is to be feared."
Chen Ke, a dignified Saint and Sage of the nation, was called a "little doll" by Xun Yu.
Anyone in his position would be displeased.
Chen Ke’s gaze was calm as he said, "This Minister was wondering why Senior Xun Yu had not been seen for all these years. So, you have been staying at the Jiangling Royal Mansion. You’ve hidden yourself well indeed."
Almost no one would have thought of it.
That such a monumental existence would choose to hide in a Prince’s Mansion, willingly becoming the Guardian for an unremarkable Prince.
In just a few words, Xun Yu had seen through Chen Ke’s strength.
And he had also seen through the "Establishing Merit" status that he had kept so deeply hidden.
This forced Chen Ke to be extremely cautious in dealing with this old Confucian senior who was comparable to a Saint.
For a Confucian Scholar to become a Saint, they must achieve "Establishing Merit," "Establishing Virtue," and "Establishing Words"—the Three Immortalities. They must construct an immortal Confucian body, have their names recorded in history for a thousand years, and be remembered for all time. Only then can they be considered a Saint of their generation.
Now, by becoming the Chief Minister of Great Yan, Chen Ke had accomplished the first step—Establishing Merit.
"Establishing Merit" requires one to squeeze into the monopolistic and extremely risky world of officialdom, which is often beyond the capabilities of a mere scholar.
One could only say that Lu Mingyuan had created an Imperial Court for him with the perfect timing, geographical advantage, and popular support, allowing him to complete the ’Establishing Merit’ so smoothly.
"No matter how vast your Divine Techniques are, Senior, you won’t be leaving the Capital City today," Chen Ke said, his gaze icy.
Xun Yu shook his head. "You cannot stop me. Perhaps Dao Lord Fuyao could give it a try, but he should already be on his way."
His eyes glinted with amusement. "In your eyes, am I truly that evil?"
Chen Ke didn’t deny it, remaining unmoved. "As the foremost strategist of the Confucian Temple, have you not schemed against enough people, Senior?"
Xun Yu said persuasively, "There are plenty of people more evil than I."
"But it’s not so easy to find someone more compassionate than I am."
Chen Ke waved his hand, activating the Grand Array of the Great Yan Capital City and trapping his opponent in place. "Enough nonsense. Let’s fight."
Xun Yu gently extended a finger and uttered a True Word:
"Shatter the stone and startle the heavens."
Instantly, the heavens roared like thunder, and celestial phenomena shook.
A statue of the Celestial God of Thunder, holding a trident, appeared at the zenith of the sky. Three thousand bolts of lightning coiled and hovered around it, illuminating the heavens.
With a single strike of the trident, the Grand Array was shattered.
Then, Xun Yu uttered a second True Word:
"Drawing Prison."
Chen Ke found that the space in the surrounding area had been completely sealed, becoming extremely viscous.
It was as if countless tons of iron and lead had been poured into his feet. The gravity intensified, making it impossible to move even an inch.
With his hands behind his back, Xun Yu slowly walked forward and said faintly,
"I told you, you are not my opponent."
"Besides, Dao Lord Fuyao shouldn’t be able to make it here in time."
This was the first time Chen Ke had encountered such a powerful opponent. His gaze hardened. "If this were a clone, it would be impossible for it to possess such strength. Is this your true body?"
Hearing this, Xun Yu simply smiled without a word.
He did not answer his question.
Just as Xun Yu was displaying his might, an ethereal and indistinct voice sounded from the sky.
"Xun Yu, you despicable villain, to think you would one day see the error of your ways?"
A middle-aged man with hints of frost at his temples, dressed in a green Confucian Shirt, descended slowly from the dome of the sky. He trod upon Golden Lotuses made of words, with magnificent characters faintly visible around him.
Sacred, cyan-purple Literary Qi surrounded his body. The sky transformed into illusory images of green lotuses and purple mulberry trees. Even standing in the Great Yan Imperial Capital, where the National Fortune was at its zenith, and being washed over by the majestic Dragon Fortune, nothing could conceal the unparalleled Holy Qi on his person. The form of his Vast Righteous Qi was flawless, brilliant gold.
The moment he appeared, all the stone statues in the Imperial Capital’s Wenchang Pavilion trembled slightly, as if in welcome. All the scholars in the city looked toward the city gate in unison, their eyes wide with shock, understanding what this meant.
A Saint had arrived in person.
"Wen Sheng?"
Xun Yu raised an eyebrow and narrowed his eyes. Looking at the middle-aged man’s figure, he also let out a laugh.
"I didn’t expect to draw out a Great Buddha like you."
Seeing his master arrive in person, Chen Ke promptly bowed.
"Disciple greets Teacher."
Wen Sheng waved his hand, and Literary Qi lifted Chen Ke’s body. Then, with a raise of his hand, he dispelled the "Drawing Prison" True Words in the area.
"Rise. There is no need for formalities."
Then, Wen Sheng looked at Xun Yu, his eyes sharp. "Having the Ash Valley Master, Celestial Dragon Master, hold back Dao Lord Fuyao while you block the city gate yourself to let the Ninth Prince leave the capital... a fine plan indeed."
"A hundred years ago, the Celestial Dragon Master had already reached the Perfection of the True Monarch realm and achieved Great Success with his Primordial Spirit. It’s no surprise that his true Cultivation has now entered the Human Immortal realm."
"The only thing that I find strange is, when did you, Xun Yu, become so self-sacrificing?"
Xun Yu let out a seemingly helpless breath and pursed his lips.
"Isn’t it because of your Great Yan’s new sovereign? The victories he has achieved on the battlefield of the Seven Kingdoms have already surpassed those of all past Emperors."
Wen Sheng’s eyes were filled with amusement. "You’ve already received the news?"
Xun Yu said leisurely, "It’s not just me. The Confucian Temple and the Dao Alliance will probably get the news soon as well."
"To be honest, three years ago, I did indeed want to use Great Yan’s Fortune to reach a higher level. But given the current situation, even I have no choice but to avoid its cutting edge for now."
"Rather than rely on Great Yan’s Fortune, it’s better to forge a new path."
Wen Sheng’s gaze sharpened, and he smiled faintly. "But the Emperor of Great Yan will not let you off for the things you have done."
"He is the type to hold a grudge. You think you can just leave whenever you want? Where in the world is there such an easy deal?"
"Today, you will not leave this Imperial Capital City without paying a price."
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