Chapter 278: Master's Demeanor

Jiang Ni flew on her sword, hands clasped behind her back, while Cao Guanzi, in his flowing green robe, floated through the air. Both appeared like celestial beings. Although Cao Changqing knew his words might dampen the mood, as a loyal subject, he felt obligated to speak some things, whether they were truly heard or not. "This young man, Tuoba Chunshun, merely uses divination to gain control and win people's hearts. By strategic assessment, he would only be considered a 'below average' candidate. However, as the son of Tuoba Pusa, he will likely join the army through conventional means, and his ability to leverage influence would actually be a plus, potentially ranking him 'above average.' Yet, if he were to transition from the military to the imperial court, he would still be inadequate for significant roles, far inferior to the versatile and adaptable Dong Zhuo, who rose from obscurity. Princess, for this journey to the Southern Capital of Beiman to meet the former officials of Western Chu, Your Highness only needs to make one appearance. All other trivial matters can be handled by your humble servant. Back then, three or four tenths of the imperial dynasty's great noble families fled north across the border, not solely out of a desire to preserve their lives, but also to prevent their lineage from being extinguished. Many families endured humiliation and hardship while awaiting your return, Princess."

Jiang Ni, hovering a meter or so above the ground on her sword, softly hummed in acknowledgment. This surprised Cao Changqing; usually, when discussing matters of dynastic restoration with the Princess, she was openly distracted. He wondered why her disposition had changed. In the mountainous forests of Red Deer Cave, where the second branch of Western Chu's imperial aura resided, nearly sixty individuals had gradually entered to build thatched shelters and live. Through his selection, an assembly of elites had gathered, resembling a miniature imperial court. Among these pillars of old Western Chu were great statesmen who feigned escaping the world for enlightenment, literary giants who had overseen the Nanyue Temple for twenty years from afar, and even a group of powerful military commanders who, despite being impoverished and living anonymously, had faked their deaths for years to conceal their identities. Upon seeing the Princess, these loyal and trusted subjects all prostrated themselves, weeping profusely. Yet, the Princess seemed unmoved by this, which caused many old ministers to worry deeply, even as they exhausted themselves. Nevertheless, no one doubted the young Princess carried the nation's destiny. During the Battle of West Leibei, when Ye Baikui fell, within the imperial city, all nine principal assisting ministers, including Cao Changqing and the old Grand Tutor Sun Xiji, personally witnessed the Emperor place the Imperial Seal—universally recognized among the Nine Spring and Autumn States as the most crucial symbol of establishing a dynasty—onto the young Princess's back. The Seal's radiance, symbolizing the nation's fortune, then vanished, becoming dull and indistinguishable from ordinary jade, its essence entirely transferred to her. It was the twilight of an empire on the brink of collapse, dark and stormy. The nine ministers knelt together in the Golden Throne Hall. To this day, Cao Changqing remembered the searing sound of the hot Seal burning her tender back, and the young Princess's bitter, sorrowful cries.

With resolute eyes, Jiang Ni said, "Uncle Qi Daizhao, I know the reason you attained the Saint realm and brought me to West Leibei and the imperial mausoleum was to secretly transfer your cultivation and the remaining national fortune of Western Chu onto me. There's no need to hide it anymore; I will accept it all."

Cao Guanzi's gaze softened as he gently said, "Princess, you don't actually need to concern yourself with the thoughts of your subjects. Your presence by our side is already the greatest blessing; there's no need for you to sacrifice anything more. Given all the machinations of Cao Changqing and those old loyalists and orphans, you can wholly devote your attention to that small vegetable garden. If even Xu Fengnian was willing to return the Princess to Western Chu, and Cao Changqing cannot ensure her peace and stability, then such a restoration is not worth pursuing."

Jiang Ni slowed her sword flight, murmuring, "If he isn't afraid of death, why should I be afraid of pain? From now on, I'll never count copper coins again."

The Grand Official, who had unconsciously transformed from the dashing Qi Daizhao into an old Confucian scholar nearing fifty, nodded and chuckled mischievously, "Alright. Even if Your Highness secretly counts them, Cao Changqing will simply pretend not to see."

Jiang Ni smiled brightly, revealing two dimples, then clenched her fists and waved them. "Uncle Qi Daizhao," she said, "tell me about the first-grade martial arts realms. I never paid much attention before."

Cao Changqing genuinely smiled. "The first grade has four levels: Vajra, Zhixuan, Tianxiang, and Land Immortal, progressing sequentially. The Vajra realm is derived from the Buddhist concept of an indestructible golden body. Zhixuan is an abbreviation of Daoist profound understanding, roughly meaning to seek immortality with a thought. Tianxiang is the majestic realm pursued by us Confucian scholars. As the sages say, 'When things are not in balance, they will cry out.' When the world is not peaceful, it is up to scholars to cultivate themselves, manage their families, govern the state, and bring peace to all under heaven. Whether through establishing doctrines, achieving merits, or fostering virtue, they must right wrongs with righteous indignation. However, most only pursue official titles, resolving injustices for a single emperor, and few truly study for the sake of the common people. As for the Land Immortal realm, one can project their spirit and wander freely between heaven and earth, truly achieving unbridled freedom. Although the first three levels of the first grade are named after the essences of the three teachings (Buddhism, Daoism, Confucianism), they often have little to do with actual practitioners of those teachings. Instead, it is martial artists who seek to prove their path through strength who advance through these realms, becoming figures of widespread admiration in the martial world. Enlightened Buddhist monks habitually forge the Great Vajra, characterized by their blood turning golden. Currently, only two or three monks have become such Buddha-like figures. As for Daoist true masters, they enter Zhixuan as soon as they reach the first grade. After Hong Xixiang's 'soldier's dissolution' on Mount Wudang, no one has temporarily entered Zhixuan. The situation at Longhu Mountain, the ancestral home of Daoism, is slightly better, but still only a handful. As for scholars, even fewer attain the first grade."

Jiang Ni pondered seriously for a moment, then said, "Aside from ordinary martial artists of the three teachings, can it be understood that one must first train a Vajra physique, then enter Zhixuan to seek energy, and then transition from energy to momentum, reaching Tianxiang, where one can 'steal' the qi of heaven and earth for resonance? If that's the case, how is a Tianxiang realm master not like a thief?"

Cao Changqing laughed with satisfaction, nodding. "Your Highness's words hit the nail on the head. 'He who steals a hook is executed; he who steals a nation becomes a lord' – that's the principle."

Jiang Ni then remembered that her Uncle Qi Daizhao, by her side, was the foremost Tianxiang expert, possessing 'eight measures' of talent, and she flushed with embarrassment. Cao Changqing, gracefully floating alongside Jiang Ni, narrowed his eyes and said, "I once used a chessboard to deduce that the simultaneous appearance of seven or eight Land Immortals in the world is the absolute limit of destiny for a single game."

Jiang Ni softly asked, "Will he become one of them?"

Cao Changqing shook his head with a sigh. "Difficult."

Jiang Ni tilted her head and asked, "What about me?"

Cao Changqing stated unequivocally, "You are guaranteed a spot."

Jiang Ni seemed to have a delayed reaction, and after finally realizing, she indignantly exclaimed, "He always lied to me, saying I was stupid and of mediocre talent!"

Cao Changqing was in excellent spirits and, no longer strictly adhering to the formalities of minister and monarch, joked, "Stab him to death with a single sword."

Jiang Ni subconsciously poked her cheek with a finger, then used both hands to rub her face, muttering to herself indistinctly.

The tip of the Daliang Longque sword suddenly pointed upwards, and she soared into the sky on her sword.

One person and one sword hovered above the sea of clouds.

Cao Changqing looked up but could no longer see her. He murmured, "A magnificent sight."

Within the former territory of Western Chu, unlike the other Spring and Autumn States whose national fortunes had collapsed and dissipated like a scattered pillar connecting heaven, a pillar of destiny suddenly coalesced, gathering the qi of a thousand square miles.

In Taian City's Imperial Astronomical Bureau, an old man who was observing the celestial phenomena suddenly had a drastic change in expression and hastily stumbled back to the library.

Xu Fengnian stood in a daze for a long time before finally snapping back to reality. He touched the relatively intact disguise mask, which was crafted to resemble Xu Qi, a young man from a minor Southern dynasty clan. This mask was the most crucial of all his disguises. Human calculations, after all, could not compare to divine fate. Having made an enemy of Tuoba Chunshun, it was likely that once Tuoba Chunshun returned to his family and used their resources to investigate "Xu Qi," Cao Changqing's impromptu cover-up wouldn't withstand prolonged scrutiny. However, for the time being, he was relatively safe. Xu Fengnian cautiously changed to another mask, then looked down at his blood-stained and tattered clothes, sighing heavily. He had no choice but to turn back south, retracing his steps. As he recuperated through breathing exercises, he replayed Duan Bo'er Huihui's lightning spear in his mind. The first spear was seen from behind, so he couldn't discern the details, but the two subsequent spears, aimed at himself and Cao Changqing, were face-to-face. Xu Fengnian mimicked the footwork, jogging a few steps, but after dozens of attempts, he still felt he hadn't grasped the essence, so he temporarily gave up. After all, it was a trump card technique of a great devil; its profoundness lay not in its form but in the intricate knowledge of qi mechanisms and meridians. If it could be so easily deciphered, it wouldn't be worth much.

He pulled out the seventh page of the saber manual from his pocket and moistened it with saliva. Cao Guanzi's earlier move, using the qi of heaven and earth to bind Tuoba Chunshun, had been breathtaking. This sight could indeed verify and illuminate the 'Green Silk Knot' technique on this very page. After entering the Vajra realm, one could vaguely discern many trajectories and outlines. Xu Fengnian had been so intent then that he almost popped his eyeballs out. Amateurs watch the show, but experts observe the technique. Technique, at its core, refers to the rituals that define boundaries. No wonder Wang Xianzhu back then shamelessly spied on masters' duels, then used "stones from other mountains to polish his own jade," incorporating them into his own arsenal. Xu Fengnian muttered to himself, clutching the torn page of the manual. It was hard to imagine this was the same person who, just moments before, had been locked in a life-and-death struggle. He owed this to the excellent temperament he had cultivated during his travels back then. Old Huang used to say that being able to sleep and wake up was a blessing, and Wen Hua claimed that being able to eat and excrete was an even greater blessing. Xu Fengnian found both perspectives quite sensible.

As for his brief reunion and swift parting with her, Xu Fengnian couldn't claim to feel much melancholy or sadness.

He wasn't in a position for romantic sentiments right now. Besides, Jiang Ni was no longer the little mud doll who only threw mud or bit people; she could now fly on a sword. He had no reason not to desperately improve his cultivation. The next time they met, that "foolish girl" would most likely be truly determined to stab him to death with her sword.

Xu Fengnian suddenly looked up and saw a figure radiating murderous intent.

An old monk stood beside a scraggly horse, his head bowed, hands clasped together.

Xu Fengnian smiled, forcibly dispelling his killing intent.

The old monk, who had already become a Buddha among men, looked up and said, "If Your Royal Highness wishes to unleash your killing intent, this old monk will certainly not retaliate."

Xu Fengnian chuckled, "Holy Monk, you already possess an indestructible Vajra body, so there's no difference whether you retaliate or not. Because of a good deed, I nearly died on the grasslands. Now I ache all over, so I won't waste any more energy."

The old monk calmly stated, "Your Highness need not worry about the safety of the herdsmen's tribe; this old monk will remain here."

Xu Fengnian asked, "Old Abbot, are you trying to speculate and assess what kind of Northern Liang King I will become? If I don't meet your expectations, will you have me die in Beiman? Or rather, regardless of whether I'm satisfactory or not, it seemed I was previously destined to die in Tuoba Chunshun's pursuit."

The old monk shook his head. "There is a person of great destiny who subtly altered fate, proving the saying that 'there are no fixed patterns in chess.' It was not this old monk's intention."

Xu Fengnian almost blurted out "bullshit," but managed to swallow it back. He took a deep breath and forced a smile devoid of any sincerity. "Old Abbot, what brings you here this time? Is there another 'good deed' waiting for me that I can't refuse?"

The old monk gave a wry chuckle and shook his head. "Your Highness worries too much. This old monk came to present a Two Zen Elixir, as compensation for my miscalculation."

Xu Fengnian showed no suspicion or hesitation, asking with a smile, "Let's not dwell on the past; it sours the mood. Old Abbot, besides giving me three, four, five, or six so-called 'living sarira' golden elixirs, do you have any Buddhist martial arts manuals?"

The old monk's hand, which had been reaching into his wide kasaya sleeve, gently withdrew. He chuckled, "There is only one elixir, and no manuals. However, judging by Your Highness's complexion, you are no longer seriously afflicted and seem not to need the Two Zen Elixir. This old monk will not add icing to the cake."

Xu Fengnian's eyes widened. He scurried over to the Buddha-like figure and said with a grin, "Don't be like that, Old Abbot. Come on, come on, let me have a look!"

The old monk looked troubled. Reaching into his sleeve, he said apologetically, "Oh? How strange, it seems to have gone missing."

Xu Fengnian's face stiffened, and he gritted his teeth, "Old Abbot, can you please act a bit more like a master?"

The old monk burst into laughter, then led his horse away.