From the scorching heat to early winter, three and a half months swiftly passed.
The ti ratio between the Bloodline World and the Main World was one to thirty. Converted to the Bloodline World, over nine years had passed, and the day of Kou Chun’s and Shooting Sun Marquis’ agreed battle was almost upon them.
Under Liu Zhou’s administration, Mi Shan County.
In front of the Confucian Temple.
"Firstly, dutiful respect towards the familial hierarchy venerates human relationships. Our Benevolent Emperor, who reigned for sixty-one years, venerated his ancestors and exhibited unwavering filial piety. He decreed ’The Extended aning of Filial Piety Scriptures,’ a book that explains scriptures in detail, imparting the principle that filial piety governs the world."
"Hence, the Sixteen Imperial Edicts begin by expounding filial responsibility..."
Walking through the stone gate and halberd gate at the entrance of the Confucian Temple, and bypassing the Screen Wall and the pool, one could see a simple cushion placed on the steps in front of the main temple door.
On the cushion sat a scholar, aged around sixty. He was dressed in a starched and faded scholar’s robe, emaciated, with a sickly yellowish complexion and a goatee.
Beneath the steps stood a group of gentry, both old and young, most of whom were young scholars.
"What a pity!" the scholar exclaid. "Shooting Sun Marquis excels in both literature and martial arts. Not only did he expand our Great Jiang Dynasty’s borderlands, but he also stood in place of the Emperor to compile ’The Wide Teachings of the Imperial Edicts.’ The ancient saying posits that ’Immortality is achieved through virtue, achievent, and words.’ ’Achievent’ refers to aiding in tis of crisis and benefiting the present. ’Words’ refers to speaking aningful words, principles worth passing down."
"Shooting Sun Marquis’ martial prowess is renowned; for fifteen years, the Northern Barbarians dared not tread southward with their horses."
"He also left behind scriptures, so he can be considered a half-Sage."
After finishing his explanation of "The Wide Teachings of the Imperial Edicts," the scholar stroked his goatee and loudly praised Shooting Sun Marquis Wuyi, who wrote this book on behalf of the Emperor.
Five years ago, Emperor Hongcheng had decreed that the local teaching minister should lecture on "The Wide Teachings of the Imperial Edicts" on every new moon and full moon day to educate the people on behalf of the Emperor. In addition, "The Wide Teachings of the Imperial Edicts" was also included in the Imperial Examination essays and interpretation sections of the Jiang Dynasty.
The New Moon Day was the first day of every month.
The Full Moon Day was the fifteenth day of every month.
Under these decrees, the reputation of Shooting Sun Marquis Wuyi neared that of the ancient Sages.
After all, throughout the generations, there had only ever been nine classics for the Imperial Examination. However, "The Wide Teachings of the Imperial Edicts," compiled by Shooting Sun Marquis Wuyi, beca the tenth classic. Even if it was only recognized within the Jiang Dynasty, this achievent was enough for him to be rembered for generations. This also exemplified the "Words" part of the immortality trinity ntioned by the old scholar.
"Long live, long live, long live the Emperor!"
The local gentry and scholars alike bowed deeply in salutation.
The end of the salutation also marked the end of this lecture on "The Wide Teachings of the Imperial Edicts."
To speak on behalf of the Emperor... such imnse prestige...
Xu Xing, mixed in with the crowd of young scholars, watched this scene, flashes of keen insight in his eyes.
One should not entrust their reputation and instrunts of power to others. The actions of Shooting Sun Marquis Wuyi would, in other dynasties, be considered a grave act of rebellion. Yet under Emperor Hongcheng, he is lauded as a half-Sage for his achievents and words. If anyone claid there was no sche at play here, he wouldn’t believe it.
Between this monarch and his minister... there must be so secret deal.
Xu Xing was certain.
When the teaching minister left, Xu Xing also departed the Confucian Temple with the crowd.
As soon as he stepped out of the alley, a Beautiful Maid, along with a few servants, gathered around him, addressing him as "Young Master."
A horse carriage stood beside the servants.
The Beautiful Maid, nad Mo i, her almond-shaped eyes sparkling upon seeing Xu Xing, said hurriedly, "Young Master, today is the Dragon Lord’s lecture. You’re a bit late, so we must hurry now."
A few words later, she lifted the bamboo curtain of the carriage, urging Xu Xing to get in quickly.
"Alright," Xu Xing nodded and got into the horse carriage without refusing.
Soon after, the horse pulling the carriage began to trot, heading towards the desolate outskirts of Mi Shan County.
After so ti, the horse carriage stopped in front of a dilapidated Dragon King Temple.
He knocked on the temple door.
The tightly closed temple door opened in response.
This Dragon King Temple was small, roughly ten feet square in area, with just one room.
Upon entering, Xu Xing didn’t hesitate. He looked at the mural in the temple and uttered a spell.
The mural instantly distorted, revealing an open path.
Walking into the open path revealed a unique Cave. This was the Dragon Palace beneath the Shanghua River. Magnificent pavilions stood there, the surrounding ground paved with precious stones and fine jade, and rare flowers and plants grew along the paths. Xu Xing lifted the crystal curtain and saw a Blue-Robed Taoist—Kou Chun!—sitting on an altar, ditating.
Ten years had passed, yet Kou Chun looked the sa; he hadn’t aged at all.
"When your father cruelly abandoned you years ago, it was simply because you are the child of a concubine... Now, only two months remain of the agreed decade. Soon, your master will go to Yujing to fight another battle with your father," Kou Chun said, opening his eyes.
"Before leaving, your master and you will go to the Eastern Sea Dragon Palace to seek a droplet of Azure Dragon’s Blood for you.
"With the aid of the Azure Dragon’s Blood, even if your master is defeated, you will be able to avenge your master in the future."
In the Bloodline World, there were two paths of cultivation: the Physical Body and the Yin Soul. The Physical Body path consisted of Bodybuilding, Blood Sacrifice, Blood Integration, Array Training, Totem, Blood Swap, and the Three Realms of Celestial Humans. The Yin Soul path was much simpler, divided into the Nine Tribulations Ghost Immortal.
Each tribulation in Nine Tribulations Ghost Immortal corresponded to a realm in Physical Body cultivation.
By now, Xu Xing, cultivating the Physical Body path, had reached the Blood Integration Realm.
This was only the result of his three years of cultivation!
After all, he was only ten years old then, having started cultivating at seven, which was considered an early start. Blessed with one of the Four Great Physiques, though he was only ten, his appearance was already similar to that of a boy of fourteen or fifteen.
Martial Dao cultivation cautioned against practicing too early, as a child’s bones and sinews would not yet be fully developed.
Forcing cultivation was destructive to the body!
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