Two days later, Qin Wudao led his army back to the Imperial Capital. Li Si, accompanied by nurous civil and military officials, went ten miles out from the city to welco them. The common people also spontaneously organized, beating gongs and drums in joyous celebration. On this day, red silks adorned every street and alley, creating a scene even more bustling than the coronation of a new emperor.
In the Golden Hall, the Qin Emperor dispensed rewards based on rit and achievent. Every individual, from the highest-ranking generals to the common soldiers, received generous rewards. As the commander-in-chief, Qin Wudao received the most lavish rewards imaginable: countless treasures of gold and silver, along with a host of new titles. However, what he valued most was the opportunity to cultivate in the Mustard Seed World.
After subduing the five kingdoms and six sects, his strength had advanced further, and he sensed his breakthrough to the Nirvana Realm was imminent. Unlike previous realms, breaking through to the Nirvana Realm was exceedingly complex. It required scattering one’s existing cultivation and starting anew, a process fraught with peril, akin to surviving nine deaths to be reborn. This transformation would temper the spiritual energy within the body. The more tis one’s cultivation was scattered, the stronger the cultivator would beco after the breakthrough. This process demanded an imnse amount of resources; otherwise, it would consu a vast period of ti.
The court assembly lasted for the better part of the day before finally adjourning. Afterwards, Qin Wudao visited Phoenix Luan Hall to converse with Willow Orchid for a while before returning to his own dwelling to await his journey to the Mustard Seed World the following day.
Inside a thatched hut, brightly lit by candlelight, Qin Wudao and Jia Xu sat opposite each other, black and white pieces in hand, engrossed in a ga of Go.
The white pieces moved like a dragon.
The black pieces, like a tiger.
Dragon and tiger clashed, their contest emanating a breathtaking aura. Had an ordinary martial artist pushed open the door at that mont, they would likely have been overwheld by this pressure and fainted.
"Does Your Highness have any plans after breaking through to the Nirvana Realm?" Jia Xu asked calmly, placing a black piece on the board. On the board, the black pieces surged forth like a tiger descending a mountain, gaining the upper hand. Faint tiger roars seed to emanate from them, spreading outside the hut.
"Fight Heaven’s Chosen!" Qin Wudao stated resolutely, placing a white piece. However, it failed to alter the declining state of his position on the board.
"Is Your Highness still unable to let go of the position of Crown Prince?" Jia Xu asked, a slight smile on his face. He understood Qin Wudao’s obsession better than anyone. A long ti ago, Qin Wudao had begun preparations to compete for the position of Crown Prince. Before the Hidden Dragon Ranking appeared, Jia Xu had supported this ambition.
But tis had changed. With the ergence of the Hidden Dragon Ranking, the contention among the Heaven’s Chosen had intensified. It was conceivable that the Sacred Lands would soon expand rapidly, strengthening their control over the continent. If the Qin Empire were used as a foundation to contend for supremacy on the continent, its resources would undoubtedly appear insufficient, far too ager for such a grand stage.
Of course, Qin Wudao understood this. But could he easily relinquish a goal he had striven for for over a decade?
"I once vowed that I would lead the Qin Empire to prominence, to let all the people of Old Qin stand proud, each like a dragon!" Qin Wudao declared, his once-hesitant gaze gradually firming with resolve. Whether one is an ordinary person or a peerless Heaven’s Chosen, all need faith to avoid losing their way on life’s path. A person without faith is like soone fumbling in the dark, with no direction, no goal! He couldn’t bear to abandon the Qin Empire, the people of Old Qin, or the soldiers who ardently supported him.
Jia Xu did not reply. He already had the answer in his heart. Qin Wudao’s conviction was to see the Qin Empire stand at the pinnacle of the world, to create an unprecedented era of prosperity. And his own conviction was to dedicate his entire life, to follow Qin Wudao until death.
CLICK! CLICK! CLICK...
The Go pieces landed with crisp sounds. It was like the saying: a move made on the board admits no regrets. Qin Wudao had chosen this path, and he would not regret it.
"You see? This is his choice."
In the dark void, two figures remained concealed, unnoticed by anyone. Even Jia Xu, at the peak of the Heaven Realm, failed to detect them. The Qin Emperor stood with his hands clasped behind him, his profound gaze fixed on the ordinary thatched hut. He had not expected this neglected son of his to harbor such a grand ambition. In comparison, he felt a sense of sha.
"Alas, His Highness is being foolish!" Li Si lanted, shaking his head, deeply disappointed that the young man was not living up to expectations. In his view, Qin Wudao, possessing a special physique, should have gone to the Sacred Lands to strive for greater cultivation, not beco entangled in the mundane affairs of the court.
"So things are best left to run their course. He has grown up," the Qin Emperor said softly, his figure beginning to fade until it rged completely with the night.
Li Si remained in place for a mont, then sighed. With a heart full of disappointnt, he returned to his own mansion.
In the latter half of the night, beneath the bright moon, a sorrowful cry like that of a tiger finding itself stranded on open plains, and an impassioned dragon’s roar that seed to shake the nine heavens, echoed from the thatched hut. These two sounds seed to foretell sothing...
The next day, Qin Wudao took Jia Xu to the imperial palace. As they passed the East Palace, they were stopped by the palace’s Grand Eunuch.
"Grand Eunuch, is there a matter?" Qin Wudao inquired, curious. He was in a hurry to go cultivate in the Mustard Seed World!
"Ninth Prince, an edict from His Majesty!" the Grand Eunuch announced, holding his fingers in an orchid gesture. With a flicker of spiritual energy fluctuations, a resplendent golden imperial decree materialized, entwined with the shadow of a dragon, exuding palpable imperial might.
"This son receives the decree!" Seeing this, Qin Wudao knelt on both knees.
The Grand Eunuch unfurled the imperial decree. Channeling spiritual energy to his throat, he read aloud in a resonant voice that reverberated throughout the sky over the Imperial Capital: "By order of the Qin Emperor: The Ninth Prince, Qin Wudao, being of virtuous character, cherishing the populace, and having achieved outstanding military rit by pacifying the six kingdoms, is hereby officially instated as Crown Prince of the Great Qin..."
Hearing this, the citizens in the capital were overjoyed. They wholeheartedly supported Qin Wudao becoming the Crown Prince and imdiately knelt in homage.
"We greet His Highness, the Crown Prince!"
"We greet His Highness, the Crown Prince!"
"We greet His Highness, the Crown Prince..."
The clamorous shouts of the people reached into the imperial palace, into the mansions of the princes, and into the residences of the court ministers.
Their expressions varied: so wore wry smiles, so looked dejected, others sighed, but most were gratified.
The contest for the crown among the nine princes had finally drawn to a close.
"This son receives the decree!" Qin Wudao, after a mont of stunned silence, accepted the imperial decree amidst the cheers of the people. From this day forward, he was the Crown Prince of Great Qin, the future Qin Emperor.
"Your Highness the Crown Prince, please co with ," the Grand Eunuch said fawningly, after handing the imperial decree to Qin Wudao. Whether he could enjoy a comfortable retirent after the Qin Emperor’s abdication would now depend on the new Crown Prince’s favor. For eunuchs like him, establishing a good relationship with the Crown Prince in advance was essential.
"Lead the way," Qin Wudao stated, then followed behind the Grand Eunuch.
After entering the imperial palace, he was led through a winding path, finally arriving before an unfamiliar rockery. Water flowed around it, producing a pleasant sound.
The Qin Emperor stood before the rockery, a smile on his face.
"Father Emperor!" Qin Wudao bowed.
Jia Xu had not accompanied him; the Grand Eunuch had arranged for him to wait in a guest room. The Mustard Seed World was the empire’s greatest secret and could not be revealed to outsiders.
"Rise," the Qin Emperor said, gesturing towards the rockery with a smile. "It connects to a third-level Mustard Seed World known as the Spirit Spring World. The spiritual energy within is exceptionally dense, and there’s a spirit river potent enough for you to achieve your breakthrough to the Nirvana Realm!"
With that said, he shot a golden light from his hand, opening the Mustard Seed World.
A spatial vortex appeared above the rockery. The instant it ford, the spiritual energy in the surrounding void intensified severalfold.
"Enter quickly!" the Qin Emperor urged. The Mustard Seed World was connected to the outside world; once opened, a large amount of spiritual energy would begin to escape.
Qin Wudao tapped his foot lightly and soared into the spatial vortex.
Instantly, he felt a surge of spiritual energy wash over him, and all the pores on his body seed to open and relax...
User Comments
0 comments from readers