“Your Majesty’s imperial mausoleum?”

Hu Bafeng was momentarily stunned, but quickly responded, “Your Majesty, regarding the matter of the imperial mausoleum, I wish to deliberate at length.”

“Oh? Why?”

“I consulted the Ministry of Industry’s records. That imperial mausoleum is incredibly vast, and the construction techniques and mechanisms from that time are entirely different from those of today.”

Hu Bafeng hesitated and said, “Just the construction time alone took thirty-nine years, employing more than 1.2 million laborers. The scale of the project was enormous.”

“Back in the day, the blueprints for this mausoleum were already turned to ash, and the last of the workers who wrapped up construction were buried with it. The Ministry of Industry couldn’t find a single piece of intelligence about the mausoleum.”

“We, the ministers, find it very difficult—extremely difficult—to open this mausoleum.”

Zheng Yi frowned and said, “The dam of a thousand miles can be destroyed by an ant hole. I am not asking you to unearth the entire mausoleum, can’t you even open a small passageway?”

“No, it can’t be done…”

Hu Bafeng said, “From my preliminary investigation, the entire mausoleum is constructed in the arrangement of Nine Palaces and Eight Trigrams, also containing the elements of the Five Elements Phase.”

“It’s a bit like… an array!”

“Simply trying to open a cave would inevitably lead to the collapse of the entire mausoleum, or cause other severe consequences.”

“Therefore, after discussion, we want to break through from the main entrance of the whole mausoleum and open the big door.”

Zheng Yi was not alarmed but pleased.

Nine Palaces and Eight Trigrams?

Five Elements Phase?

Array?

Doesn’t that mean that Zheng Mingsen’s mausoleum, indeed, contains cultivation techniques?

Otherwise, why would it need such secrecy?

Such an elaborate construction for his own mausoleum?

“I don’t care about these procedures. I just want to know how much longer it will take to open the mausoleum!”

Hu Bafeng hesitated for a moment, calculating quickly in his mind, then said, “Reporting to Your Majesty, quickly, three years; slowly, five years, or even ten years!”

“Ten years?”

Zheng Yi said indifferently, “I can wait. No matter what, I want you to ensure the mausoleum opens properly, and do not destroy anything inside, understand?”

“Understood!”

Hu Bafeng quickly retreated, and Chen Liancang walked in.

“Your Majesty.”

“Elder Chen? Is there something important?”

Chen Liancang said, “The Shadow Guard has two members whose martial arts cultivation has broken through to the Grandmaster Realm.”

“Oh? So fast!”

Zheng Yi’s eyes flashed. It was less than a year since the last inquiry.

These two Shadow Guards actually broke through so quickly.

“Who are they?”

“Dark Crow, Dark Snake.”

“What are their names?”

“Once they enter the Shadow Guard, they have no names or past, only missions and codenames.”

Chen Liancang said, “Your Majesty, you can just call them by their codenames.”

Zheng Yi pondered for several minutes and said, “Bring them in.”

“Understood!”

Soon, two eunuchs, about twenty-four or twenty-five years old, quickly walked in.

“Servants Dark Crow, Dark Snake, pay respects to Your Majesty!”

Dark Crow’s face was robust, his eyes sharp.

And Dark Snake was subtle and unassuming, his eyes usual.

“I have already heard from Elder Chen that both of you have broken through to the Grandmaster Realm in martial arts cultivation. Congratulations, it’s commendable.”

The two said in unison, “It’s all thanks to Your Majesty’s palace; we are trembling with fear!”

“You may rise.”

“Understood!”

The two stood up, and Zheng Yi said, “Which of you broke through first?”

Dark Crow responded first, “Reporting to Your Majesty, I broke through first. But Dark Snake followed closely, differing only by the time it takes to drink a cup of tea.”

“Very good!”

Zheng Yi said, “Both of you broke through on the same day. I have a reward for you, be it money or land.”

“I want to know if you have any other wishes?”

“If reasonable, I’ll certainly grant it.”

The two exchanged a glance, and it was still Dark Crow who said, “Reporting to Your Majesty, I have lived in the Shadow Guard since childhood and do not know what wishes I have. Please reward us as you see fit.”

“My entire life has been lived for Your Majesty!”

Zheng Yi’s eyes shifted, and he looked at Dark Snake again.

Dark Snake hesitated and said, “Your—Your Majesty, I—I have a request.”

“Oh?”

Zheng Yi became interested and asked, “What is your request?”

“After being rescued by the Shadow Guard, I have faint memories.”

Dark Snake said, “It seems I have a younger sister named Qingg’er or something. Since childhood, we got separated. I might have just this one relative in the world. Could Your Majesty help me find my sister?”

“Qingg’er?”

Zheng Yi immediately asked, “What are your sister’s characteristics?”

“On the back of her neck, there’s a pink butterfly birthmark. I—I also have one!”

Dark Snake said as he opened his collar, revealing a copper coin-sized butterfly birthmark on the back of his right shoulder, three inches from his neck.

“Call the painter to copy this birthmark, and instruct the Publicity Department to add it in the next issue of the newspaper’s missing person notice.”

“Understood!”

“Thank you, Your Majesty, thank you, Your Majesty!”

Zheng Yi nodded and said, “You two have both broken through to the Grandmaster Realm, nearing the Innate stage. In the future, you needn’t be so formal.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty!”

“Dark Crow, Dark Snake, these two names are mere codenames that do not match your status.”

Grandmaster Realm Martial Artist.

In the Martial World, enough to become a formidable force, a figure on the ancestral master level establishing a sect.

Baihua Sect has relied on an elderly Grandmaster Realm Martial Artist to sustain for so many years.

Once that Grandmaster Realm Martial Artist dies, the entire Baihua Sect shows signs of collapse, having to seek a new patron.

Originally, in the Great Yu Honored Guest Institute, there were only two jade-plaque Grandmaster Realm Martial Artists.

Now, they have all entered the Innate Realm.

It’s easy to imagine the rarity of Grandmaster Realm Martial Artists.

And now, under Zheng Yi’s command, there are two additional Grandmaster Realm Martial Artists!

Zheng Yi continued, “Both of you were raised and nurtured by Elder Chen since childhood, acting as both teacher and father.”

“Dark Crow, from now on your name will be ‘Chen Zhong.’

“Dark Snake, from now on your name will be ‘Chen Yi.’

“How does it feel?”

Both men knelt down again, bowing deeply: “Thank you, Your Majesty, for bestowing us names!”

“Rise~”

“Yes!”

“Miaoo Xiu has sent a message indicating that in Yongzhou, the martial sect ‘Cuihua Sect’ is also rebelling. The ancestor of Cuihua Sect is a Grandmaster Realm Martial Artist, and he cannot be matched.”

Zheng Yi continued: “I will send you two to Yongzhou to find an opportunity to assassinate the ancestor of Cuihua Sect and exterminate the entire sect.”

“Yes!”

The two immediately accepted the decree and withdrew.

“Your Majesty, the slave has other important matters.”

Zheng Yi asked curiously: “What is it?”

“In Jiangnan Martial World, someone has broken through to the Innate Realm.”

“Hmm? Who is it? A martial arts family? Or a certain sect?”

“Reporting to Your Majesty,” Chen Liancang responded, “The Tuoba Family of Yunmeng Marsh, Tuoba Feng.”

“The abbot of Tianlong Temple, Elder Fayuan.”

“Hmm? Two people?”

Zheng Yi frowned: “Several years ago, there were only two Innate Realm Martial Artists in the entire Martial World. Why are there so many in the past two years?”

“The slave does not know.”

Zheng Yi furrowed his brow, already guessing it might be related to the five Innate Spiritual Qi that emerged earlier.

It seems he must hurry and have children, have ten daughters, just to control those ten Innate Spiritual Qi, preventing them from running wild.

Southern Innate Martial Artists?

They all bear my great favor!

“The Tuoba Family of Yunmeng Marsh and Tianlong Temple, what are their statuses?”

Chen Liancang responded, “The Tuoba Family, over three hundred years ago, was a rebel king force contending with Great Yu’s Royal Family for the world, defeated by the Grand Ancestor leading the troops, after which the Tuoba Family withdrew from the contest.

“But this family has lived in Yunmeng Marsh for generations. Yunmeng Marsh is a vast lake stretching thousands of miles, with interwoven waterways and numerous small islands, covered in thick fog. Those unfamiliar with the terrain can easily get lost therein.”

“After the Tuoba Family retreated to Yunmeng Marsh, following the Grand Ancestor’s establishment of Central Plains, he attempted to seize Yunmeng Marsh but suffered heavy losses, at least ten thousand killed, unable to occupy the entire marsh.”

“The Tuoba Family also suffered greatly, a nearly twenty-year-long war almost brought the family to extinction.”

“In the end, the Tuoba Family voluntarily submitted, and the Grand Ancestor ceased the thought of wiping them out.”

“Until now, utilizing the advantages of Yunmeng Marsh, the Tuoba Family’s power has spread over half of the South, becoming the top martial arts family of the South!”

“Top martial arts family of the South?”

With furrowed brows, Zheng Yi firmly remembered the entire martial arts family.

“And Tianlong Temple?”

“Tianlong Temple… is the sect of the Great Buddha Country, introduced to Great Yu during the Grand Ancestor’s era.”

Chen Liancang said, “This sect excels at beguiling hearts, using promises of rewards in the next life to influence village women and commoners, with thousands of followers.”

“Its temple is atop Tianlong Mountain in Lin’an County, leading Great Yu’s Buddhist followers.”

“The abbot of Tianlong Temple, Elder Fayuan claims to be the reincarnation of the Buddha, possessing miraculous abilities like a tongue that blooms lotus flowers, worshipped by countless adherents.”

“The sect also holds thirty thousand volumes of scriptures and 721 martial arts cultivation techniques, regarded by the entire martial world as a holy land.”

“Numerous martial artists kneel outside Tianlong Temple’s gates for years in pursuit of its teachings.”

“However, Tianlong Temple selects disciples not based on talent but on ‘karmic affinity.’

“Thus, although the martial monks within Tianlong Temple are numerous, they vary greatly. The strong are very strong, whereas the weak are like ordinary people.”

“Buddhism…”

Zheng Yi murmured, recalling some information about Buddhism from a past life.

“Does the Buddhist sect have a tendency to be exempt from taxes?”

Chen Liancang paused, “Reporting to Your Majesty, during the Grand Ancestor’s establishment of Central Plains, state policy was decreed that monks and Daoists, being outsiders, need not pay taxes.”

“Not only Tianlong Temple but also Taiyii Dao, Longhu Mountain, and members of the Celestial Destiny Sect are all exempt from taxes.”

“…”

Zheng Yi had nothing to say; it seems the land annexation situation in the South is far worse than he imagined!

The Tuoba Family’s hidden Yunmeng Marsh, in Zheng Yi’s mind, is not a family at all, but a nation within a nation!

As for Tianlong Temple’s leadership of the Buddhist sect, it is likely far more severe than the historical perspective of his previous life.

“No wonder Great Yu’s population is in the billions, yet annual tax revenue is only around thirty to forty million.”

Zheng Yi muttered, “A substantial part is undoubtedly occupied by these families, martial arts sects, and members of the Buddhist and Daoist sects.”

“Cheng’en, draft a decree.”

“Yes!”

Liu Cheng’en swiftly took out the brush, ink, paper, and inkstone, ready to record.

“I profess a fondness for Buddhist Dharma, particularly inviting Tianlong Temple’s abbot Elder Fayuan to the capital to host the Water and Land Conference, explaining the Buddhist Dharma to me.”

Liu Cheng’en revised and quickly wrote it down.

“Continue writing.”

“The ancestor of the Tuoba Family in Yunmeng Marsh advancing to the Innate Realm is a significant national event. I wish to form an alliance with the Tuoba Family, ordering them to send a direct daughter to the capital to marry, bestowing the title of Consort.”

Liu Cheng’en hesitated slightly but quickly finished writing.

“Send out these two Holy Decrees immediately.”

“Yes!”

“If the Tuoba Family and Tianlong Temple obediently come to the capital, I need not say more. But if they find excuses not to come, then there must be something wrong!”

“Elder Chen.”

“Your Majesty.”

“Dispatch all the spies from the Embroidered Uniform Guard and Eastern Depot to the South, truly investigate what the southern sects and noble families are doing.”

Zheng Yi instructed: “Especially Tianlong Temple!”

“Yes!”

“Report…!”

Right then, an Imperial Guard rushed in, holding a dossier with both hands.

“Your Majesty! Binzhou, an urgent message delivered over eight hundred miles!”

“Hmm? Binzhou?”

“Xu Mujun!”

Zheng Yi quickly took the dossier and scanned through its contents almost instantly, his eyes gleaming brightly.

Beside him, Chen Liancang asked with suspicion: “Your Majesty, what has happened? From Grand General Xu’s side…”

“Hahaha, hahahahaha…”

Zheng Yi laughed heartily, tossing the dossier to Chen Liancang.

“Grand General Xu has achieved great victory!”

“Black Mountain Pass belongs to Great Yu now!”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep