Chapter 35: Achieving Innate Talent
Xu Ning knew the rules of this ga well. An outsider like him could never openly interfere in royal succession affairs. It was forbidden territory.
He couldn't even offer direct advice on the matter. If he were to actually propose a concrete plan today, he would be signing his own death warrant. Even if Xia Yun didn't beco emperor, he would find a way to kill Xu Ning to eliminate any witness to his own machinations.
And if Xia Yun did succeed, he wouldn't let Xu Ning off the hook either. Xu Ning's casual disregard for the sanctity of imperial authority would make him a permanent thorn in Xia Yun's side, a reminder of his own scheming. Either way, Xu Ning would be in danger.
After several more rounds of pointed questioning, Xu Ning remained stubbornly tight-lipped about royal affairs. Xia Yun finally had to give up, recognizing the man's unwavering caution.
However, asking about other, less dangerous topics was still inevitable. Xia Yun's curiosity was insatiable.
For instance, he asked if there was a way to improve agricultural yields across the kingdom.
For example, he wondered if Xu Ning, with his strategic mind, could devise a plan to weaken or even destroy the Cangming Empire without direct warfare.
Faced with these practical, non-political problems, Xu Ning had no reservations. He directly offered clear, actionable solutions.
He proposed the theories of fertilization and seed selection.
Fertilizer, he explained, was simply manure, properly treated and applied to enrich the soil. Seed selection involved identifying the strongest, most productive crop varieties and vigorously promoting their planting across the kingdom.
As for how to strategically weaken the Cangming Empire, Xu Ning proposed a ruthless but brilliant economic plan. He called it the "silk famine" strategy.
First, Da Xuan would issue a decree encouraging—or even requiring—all citizens of ans to wear clothing produced by the Cangming Empire, primarily silk. This would artificially inflate the demand for Cangming silk, driving up its price.
Once the Cangming Empire, seeing the profits, had converted large tracts of their agricultural land to mulberry trees for silk production, Da Xuan would then abruptly halt all imports of silk clothing.
Simultaneously, Da Xuan would drive up the price of grain on the international market, making it difficult for Cangming to import food. Within two years, their economy would collapse and their national strength would be utterly depleted.
This was the famous historical anecdote from Xu Ning's previous life, the story of Guan Zhong using economic warfare to destroy a hostile kingdom without losing a single soldier.
Xia Yun was astonished upon hearing this brilliant, underhanded strategy. He exclaid in admiration, his eyes wide with wonder.
Princess Xia Li stared at Xu Ning for a long ti, her eyes filled with undisguised admiration. This scholar was unlike any she had ever t.
Throughout their journey and countless conversations, Xia Yun and Xia Li were completely convinced of Xu Ning's extraordinary abilities!
They couldn't help but continue to ask him questions at every opportunity along the road, soaking up his knowledge like sponges.
Thus, Xu Ning was questioned and talked to the entire way, patiently explaining his various ideas.
In the blink of an eye, the group had arrived outside the magnificent capital city of Mingdu.
Standing outside the carriage, gazing at the imposing capital city walls in the distance, Xia Yun spoke with clear reluctance. "Mr. Xu Ning, let's part ways here. I cannot be seen entering the city with an unknown scholar. It would draw unwanted attention to you."
Unconsciously, during their journey, Xia Yun had begun addressing Xu Ning as "Mr. Xu Ning," his words filled with genuine respect and admiration.
Xu Ning cupped his hands in a formal farewell greeting. "Since Your Highness trusts so much, then I shall dare to offer one final piece of advice before we part."
Xia Yun imdiately beca interested and turned to face Xu Ning fully. "Please speak freely, sir! I value your counsel."
Xu Ning said simply, "You shouldn't enter the capital city at this ti. Turn back now."
Xia Yun pondered this carefully. How could he not understand Xu Ning's aning? It was dangerous for a prince with military power to be in the capital during a succession crisis. However, he also had his own difficulties—filial piety demanded he see his dying father.
Seeing Xia Yun hesitate, Xu Ning spoke again, more firmly. "Your Highness needs to accumulate strength now, quietly and patiently. Entering the city gains you nothing and risks everything."
Xia Yun remained silent, looking at the capital city with a complex, conflicted expression.
Finally, after a long mont, he gritted his teeth and made the difficult decision. He ordered his captain, "Turn the caravan around. We return to Nanling imdiately."
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This decision imdiately left his subordinates and Princess Xia Li completely bewildered. They had traveled so far, only to turn back at the gates?
As the caravan slowly turned around, Xia Yun couldn't help but lean out of the carriage and bow deeply to Xu Ning. "Sir, if I were to raise an army and make a claim for the throne one day, would you be willing to lend your counsel and your hand?"
Xu Ning returned the bow respectfully. "If that day cos, and I am able, I will certainly co to Your Highness's aid."
Xu Ning's words, vague as they were, seed to give Xia Yun imnse confidence. His expression cleared, and he imdiately turned and climbed back into the carriage.
The caravan imdiately set off back the way they had co, quickly disappearing from Xu Ning's sight in a cloud of dust.
Xu Ning smiled to himself, climbed onto Tie Dan's back, and leisurely headed towards the famous capital alone.
It had to be said, traveling with soone who provided a luxurious carriage made the journey noticeably less tiring and much faster.
What would normally take a month on his own was covered in just over ten days with their help.
As for why Xu Ning had persuaded Xia Yun to return, it was simply to save the man's life. He had grown to like the prince.
If the old emperor were to pass away soon—and by all accounts, he was at death's door—the throne would never fall to the fifth prince, who was far away and had no powerful faction in the capital. Whoever did ascend the throne would not easily let the other princes leave the capital afterwards.
Royal struggles were inherently cruel. No one wanted to let a potential rival, a tiger, return to the mountains where they could gather strength. Especially not a prince like Xia Yun, who commanded the loyal border army in Nanling.
Thinking of this, Xu Ning couldn't help but shake his head and chuckle. What did any of this have to do with , really? I'm just a passing traveler.
However, there was one thing Xu Ning was genuinely curious about. Would cultivators ever get involved in the conflicts and power struggles of the mortal world?
If they did, he would have to be even more prepared to run away at a mont's notice. Mortal politics was one thing; immortal politics was another danger entirely.
Entering Mingdu City, Xu Ning first found a modest inn to settle down in. Then, out of simple curiosity, he wandered around the city to see the sights.
His main destination of interest, he had to admit, was the famous entertainnt districts and brothels he had heard so much about.
Xu Ning had originally wanted to experience such a place, just to satisfy his curiosity. But after discreetly asking about the prices, he imdiately shook his head and abandoned the idea. His five hundred taels of silver, a fortune in the countryside, wouldn't last long enough to buy much of anything in these expensive establishnts. He simply gave up the notion.
The person who answered Xu Ning's question, seeing his reaction, couldn't help but mutter under his breath, "Tsk, another poor scholar with big ideas and no money."
Xu Ning, of course, heard this and nodded inwardly with amusent, thinking, He's quite perceptive. That's exactly what I am.
After wandering around Mingdu City for more than twenty days, familiarizing himself with the layout, Xu Ning unexpectedly t ng Yangming and ng Lingzhu again.
"Young friend, we et again!" ng Yangming couldn't help but laugh heartily at the coincidence.
Xu Ning was also sowhat surprised. "You've co to Mingdu City too? What a coincidence."
ng Yangming nodded with a smile. "However, we didn't travel the sa way as you. We had so personal errands to run along the route, so we couldn't accompany you, young friend. But I'm glad we've found you now."
With that, ng Yangming took out several more worn cultivation manuals from his robes and handed them respectfully to Xu Ning. "These are more cultivation manuals I managed to collect for you, young friend. A small token of our ongoing gratitude."
Xu Ning was overjoyed and quickly accepted them, his heart racing with anticipation. "Thank you, Senior! This is more than I could have hoped for."
ng Yangming waved his hand dismissively. "It's the least we could do, young friend. Now, we have other important matters to attend to here in the capital. We'll et again later, I'm sure."
With that, ng Yangming hurriedly left with ng Lingzhu, disappearing into the bustling crowds.
Xu Ning, on the other hand, couldn't wait to return to his inn room. He imdiately began eagerly studying the new cultivation manuals.
The quality of the manuals ng Yangming had given this ti was noticeably inferior to the last batch. Only one of them was a true top-tier technique.
However, one particular manual imdiately caught Xu Ning's attention and held it.
The technique was called the Thousand Shadows Transformation. It was a disguise-type skill that could be cultivated to five levels of mastery.
Upon full mastery, it promised not only to alter one's facial appearance but also to reshape bone structure. It would allow the user to transform from an adult into a child, or even into an aged, stooped elder, with complete believability.
This technique seed tailor-made for Xu Ning, who valued anonymity above all else. He imdiately began practicing it with intense focus.
Perhaps due to the commonality of techniques he had already studied, Xu Ning mastered the basics of Thousand Shadows Transformation in just one day. In three days, he reached the first level.
Although his progress was still far slower than Tie Dan and Yingying Monster's supernatural speed, Xu Ning was already quite satisfied with his own pace.
He then activated the Thousand Shadows Transformation for the first ti. His facial muscles began to subtly move and shift, and soon his face was completely transford into a different person.
Picking up a bronze mirror, Xu Ning nodded in satisfaction at the unfamiliar face staring back at him.
Although it was only the first level, it already allowed for the most basic changes to his facial features. That was more than enough for his needs.
This ant he no longer needed to rely on crude dical techniques—like inserting silver needles into his acupoints—to temporarily alter his appearance. Xu Ning carefully removed a silver needle he had kept inserted in a specific point on his scalp.
His previously aged, thirty-sothing face instantly relaxed and returned to its true youthful appearance.
Xu Ning then circulated his cultivation technique again, reactivating the Thousand Shadows Transformation. His face subtly aged once more, making him appear to be in his early thirties, the perfect disguise for a scholar taking the exams.
Satisfied with this new ability, Xu Ning set aside the mirror, took out the other cultivation techniques, and began studying them with renewed vigor.
Ti flew by, and over a month passed in the blink of an eye. Xu Ning had thoroughly studied and absorbed all the new techniques.
Simultaneously, during his research, his understanding of the Thousand Shadows Transformation technique deepened, and it effectively broke through to the sixth level of his ntal mastery, even though his practical skill was only at the second level.
The other three core techniques also simultaneously broke through to the sixth level of his understanding. As a result of this deepened comprehension, Xu Ning's cultivation finally broke through the barrier. He officially entered the Innate Realm.
In the martial arts world, the Innate Realm held a very high status. After all, above it was only the legendary Grandmaster realm.
And Grandmasters appeared only once every few generations, if that. So the Innate Realm naturally occupied the dominant position among active martial artists.
During the ti Xu Ning was buried in his research, a major event occurred in Mingdu City that shook the very foundations of the capital.
This event was directly related to ng Yangming.
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