173: Gift from Taoist Qingwei

Li Shimin fell.

After Jing Tian and the two others visited Li Chengqian, they were drenched as if they had taken a bath!

Coming out of Taiji Hall, Jing Tian was still in a daze.

He felt like he had just had an absurd dream.

First, an imperial edict was issued, and he was arrested from Yuzhou City and brought to Chang'an.

Then, he met the legendary Emperor.

Finally, that Emperor, who seemed even more powerful than an immortal, actually said he wanted him, a pawnshop clerk, to learn some cultivation methods.

"Daoist, Daoist!"

Jing Tian sidled up to Xu Changqing, asking in a fawning whisper, "Your Majesty just now, what... what exactly did he mean? I'm just an ordinary Mortal, why do I need to cultivate? Is there a mistake?"

Xu Changqing glanced at him, and a hint of confusion also flickered in his clear eyes.

He also couldn't understand why this The New Emperor would attach so much importance to an ordinary-looking Mortal clerk.

And even said, "Your destiny does not belong to you."

There must be some secret hidden within this that he didn't know.

"Your Majesty's thoughts are unfathomable, beyond what we can comprehend."

Xu Changqing shook his head and said indifferently, "You just need to obey Your Majesty's imperial edict."

"Obey? How do I obey!"

Jing Tian cried with a long face, "I can't even read a few words, how can I cultivate? Besides, my biggest dream is to take over Yongan Pawnshop and become a big boss; I don't want to be some immortal!"

"Hmph! With your lazy bones, you still want to be an immortal?"

Tang Xuejian, who was beside him, finally recovered from the shock and immediately reverted to her saucy nature, scoffing at Jing Tian.

"I think Your Majesty wants you to cultivate just to see how stupid you can really be!"

"You!"

Jing Tian was choked by her words, too angry to speak.

As the three of them were bickering, Li Junxian's cold face appeared before them.

"Your Majesty has an imperial edict; the three of you, please follow me."

His voice remained utterly devoid of warmth.

Jing Tian and Tang Xuejian immediately became like ducks whose necks had been squeezed, not daring to utter another word.

Under Li Junxian's lead, they passed through layers of palaces and finally arrived at an elegant villa.

"This is 'Tingfeng Courtyard'."

Li Junxian introduced indifferently, "Before Your Majesty issues a new imperial edict, the three of you will reside here."

"Food, clothing, shelter, and transportation will all be attended to by palace servants. If you have any questions regarding cultivation, you can consult me or the instructors in the manor at any time."

His gaze lingered on Jing Tian for an extra moment.

"Especially you."

"Yes... yes..."

Jing Tian quickly nodded and bowed.

Having arranged everything, Li Junxian turned and left.

The entire villa, apart from a few mute palace maids responsible for cleaning, was left with only the three of them.

"Wow! This place is so beautiful!"

Tang Xuejian looked at the exquisite pavilions, rockeries, and flowing water in the courtyard, immediately forgetting her earlier fear and excitedly running around.

Jing Tian, on the other hand, found a stone stool, plopped down, and continued to sigh.

He felt his future was bleak.

Cultivation, destiny—he had no interest in any of it.

Right now, he only wanted to return to Yuzhou City, to his Yongan Pawnshop, and continue living his lazy little life.

Xu Changqing stood in the center of the courtyard, eyes closed in contemplation.

He could feel that this villa, seemingly ordinary, was in fact protected by an extremely sophisticated Restriction.

This Restriction did no harm but could isolate all Qi from inside and out.

They were under house arrest.

What exactly did this The New Emperor want to do?

What was the profound meaning behind him confining a Shu Mountain Disciple like himself, an ordinary Mortal clerk of unknown origin, and a Young Miss from the Tang Family Fort together?

Xu Changqing's heart was filled with questions.

But he knew that, for now, the only thing he could do was wait.

Wait for that unfathomable Emperor to reveal his true purpose... Meanwhile, in the Imperial Study.

Li Chengqian was listening to the Bad People's report.

"Reporting to Your Majesty, the remnants of the Gu clan in Wujun have all been purged. In the Jiangnan region, no aristocratic families dare to openly defy the equal-field system anymore."

"Reporting to Your Majesty, the 'Dragon Seed Project' has been launched nationwide, and the first batch of three thousand eligible children has been secretly sent to Chang'an and settled in the Tiance Manor villa outside the city."

"Reporting to Your Majesty, Retired Emperor went to Changan Academy today. After meeting with the Master, he returned to Wude Hall and then vomited blood and fell unconscious. According to Zhangsun Wuji's message, Retired Emperor has... conceded."

Li Chengqian listened quietly, his face devoid of any expression.

Everything was within his plan.

The blood of the Jiangnan aristocratic families had deterred all minor villains.

The "Dragon Seed Project" was the most important spark he had laid for this world.

And Li Shimin's complete submission meant that the last trace of shadow from the old era had also vanished.

Now, he could free up his hands to deal with some more interesting matters.

"Are Jing Tian and the others settled?"

Li Chengqian asked.

"Reporting to Your Majesty, they have been arranged in Tingfeng Courtyard as per your instructions."

Li Junxian replied.

"Hmm."

Li Chengqian nodded, "Send people to keep a close watch. Especially that Jing Tian; every move he makes must be reported to Us."

"Your subject obeys the imperial edict."

Taiji Hall.

A water mirror floated before Li Chengqian.

In the mirror, everything happening within Tingfeng Courtyard was clearly reflected.

He watched Jing Tian's hesitant and eager expression, a cold smile curling at the corner of his lips.

"Fei Peng, oh Fei Peng, even if you are Reincarnation as a human, deep down, you are still that General Fei Peng born for battle."

"The Demonic Sword is the key Zhonglou prepared for you to awaken your Divine Power."

"But how could We let you walk the path he arranged for you so easily?"

A glint flashed in Li Chengqian's eyes.

What he wanted to do was not to stop Jing Tian from picking up the Demonic Sword.

But rather, to add a variable of his own to this fated trajectory.

He wanted Jing Tian, this future "savior," to also become a blade in his hands.

A blade that only obeyed his commands.

"Your Majesty."

Li Junxian's voice sounded from outside the hall.

"National Master Daoist Qing Wei, as per your imperial edict, has made ten thousand copies of the basic Shu Mountain cultivation methods and sent them to Tiance Manor."

"Very good."

Li Chengqian waved his hand, dismissing the water mirror.

"Furthermore,"

Li Junxian paused, then continued, "The National Master also entrusted your subject with an item, saying that it might be of some help to Your Majesty."

As he spoke, he took out an ancient Jade Slip from his bosom and presented it with both hands.

Li Chengqian took the Jade Slip and his Divine Sense probed into it.

The next moment, for the first time, a truly interested expression appeared in his eyes.

The Jade Slip did not record any profound Dao techniques.

Instead, it contained an ancient secret about "General Fei Peng" and "Demon Lord Zhonglou."

And... a secret art called "Heart Sword," which only the Shu Mountain Sect Master was qualified to cultivate.

This art did not cultivate spiritual power or refine the Physical Body.

What it cultivated was the heart.

With the heart as a sword, one could cut through all illusions and see through all phantoms.

One could even plant a seed of one's own will in another's spiritual world.

"Interesting..."