Chapter 74: Chapter 70: The Liangqiao Mutiny, the Court and Country in an Uproar

Lu Mingyuan drank all the Cyan Jade Liquid from the Heaven-Controlling Bottle, and a massive surge of power immediately flooded his Dantian, threatening to tear him apart.

Fortunately, the sensation was suppressed as soon as he began circulating the Blood Glutton Celestial Fall Scripture.

For a Martial Artist in the Lower Seven Realms, a single drop of Cyan Jade Liquid was a significant amount of power. Twenty drops was an immense quantity.

That was why only Lu Mingyuan would dare to do such a thing. Any other Martial Artist would have been torn apart by the sheer force.

He could absorb any amount of power thrown at him.

Upon reaching his Dantian, the Cyan Jade Liquid dissolved into gas, which was in turn absorbed by the various Acupoints of his Flesh Body.

Nurtured within the Acupoints, the gas completely transformed into pure Martial Dao Primordial Qi, which then accumulated inside them.

The Acupoints in a Martial Artist’s body can store vast amounts of Primordial Qi. Reaching the Grandmaster realm primarily depends on the number of Acupoints and the amount of Primordial Qi they contain.

One who opens three hundred and sixty-five Acupoints can be called a Grandmaster, which is considered the peak for most people.

Some Grandmasters with no hope of breaking through to the Middle Fifth Grade spend their lives accumulating Martial Dao Primordial Qi, amassing sixty, or even one hundred and twenty years’ worth. When such individuals strike, they can shatter mountains and destroy cities. Their might is no less than that of a Middle Fifth Grade expert, and they are known as Martial Arts Grandmasters.

If a Martial Artist can tap into their own potential and break through their other Death Points, turning them into Vital Points, it’s possible for them to have over a thousand, or even three thousand Acupoints—it all depends on the individual.

This could be considered the unique advantage of the Martial Dao.

To advance, Three Religions Cultivators generally need to attain a higher state of mind and grasp more profound concepts. This is true even for Qi Cultivators, for whom the later stages of Enlightenment and Integration are indispensable. Confucian Taoist Students, needing to build upon the wisdom of the Confucian Saints to gain their own understanding, face an even more difficult path. The same is largely true for Buddhist Cultivators.

But Martial Artists only need to train. As long as the myriad things of the world exist, they can be made a part of the self.

To break through to the Sea-Viewing Realm, one must have, at a minimum, over a thousand Acupoints.

It is said that upon reaching the Middle Fifth Grade, the Sea-Viewing Realm, a Martial Artist’s Acupoints can be expanded to an immense size, like great rivers and streams. The Acupoints of those with the highest talent can hold the volume of an entire lake or river.

Right now, Lu Mingyuan was using the power of the Cyan Jade Liquid to break through his blocked vital channels, turning them all into Acupoints.

He had already opened most of his Acupoints when he broke through to the Fifth Realm Furnace Building, so the process was now quite easy.

Among Qi Cultivators, the Martial Arts Fifth Realm is known as Foundation Establishment.

This is what is meant by the common expressions “laying the Dao Foundation” or “building a foundation.”

The two concepts were remarkably similar. Lu Mingyuan’s own foundation was now exceptionally solid; his skin, meridians, bone marrow, and Acupoints had all been nourished to a state of Perfection. It was all thanks to the Blood Glutton Celestial Fall Scripture, which allowed him to transform the act of cultivation into one of devouring, thereby tempering his Flesh Body.

After the time it takes for three incense sticks to burn, Lu Mingyuan had fully opened and refined all three hundred and sixty-five of his Acupoints. They were now filled with a massive amount of Martial Dao Primordial Qi, and his Cultivation soared uncontrollably!

[Cultivation Technique: Blood Glutton Celestial Fall Scripture – Abnormal Eating Chapter (Sixth Floor: 7109/15000)]

[Cultivation Technique: Blood Glutton Celestial Fall Scripture – Abnormal Eating Chapter (Sixth Floor: 9000/15000)]

[Cultivation Technique: Blood Glutton Celestial Fall Scripture – Abnormal Eating Chapter (Sixth Floor: 12000/15000)]

…

[Cultivation Technique: Blood Glutton Celestial Fall Scripture – Abnormal Eating Chapter (Sixth Floor: 15000/15000)]

He had officially become a Sixth Realm Grandmaster!

The panel before his eyes changed.

[Cultivation Technique: Blood Glutton Celestial Fall Scripture – Abnormal Eating Chapter (Seventh Floor: 1231/50000)]

To break through to the rank of Grandmaster required a full fifty thousand points of nourishment!

To Lu Mingyuan’s relief, the Cyan Jade Liquid could still provide five hundred points of nourishment, unlike the food in the palace.

This proved it was truly an immortal treasure, something extraordinary that could be used specifically to nourish the Flesh Body.

At the same time, the Refinement Level of his “Martial Fool” Fate Grid was also increasing.

[Luminous Green Fate Grid – Martial Fool, Refinement Level increased to 80%]

[Promoted Life Chart Trait – Sinking Heart (Middle Level)]

[Sinking Heart (Middle Level): Allows entry into a deep State of Self-Forgetfulness to diligently study Cultivation Techniques and Martial Arts. With enough time, mastery is guaranteed.]

Breaking through a Realm had increased it by fifteen percent.

Most importantly, “Sinking Heart” had been upgraded.

Before, it only offered a high probability of success; now, it guaranteed he could learn anything as long as he spent enough time.

’It sounds a bit like ’heaven helps those who help themselves,’’ he thought. ’Not bad at all.’

Having just broken through to the Grandmaster Realm, Lu Mingyuan was in high spirits and decided to go for a walk to get some fresh air.

He also wanted to see if his sister-in-law was in the hall.

As he walked along the cobblestone path of the Cold Palace, there was still no sign of the sweeping eunuch.

The eunuch hadn’t appeared since Lu Mingyuan had approached him for a conversation several months ago.

’It’s as if I disturbed him, so he stopped appearing.’

It wasn’t that he didn’t want to find him, but that he simply couldn’t.

About a hundred meters from the Cold Palace, Lu Mingyuan climbed a garden pavilion overlooking the Harem. As he was basking in the sun, he noticed hurried figures in the far distance. It was a dark, surging crowd of Court officials, all of them rushing toward Holy Bright Palace.

What Lu Mingyuan didn’t know was that news that would shake the entire Dynasty was about to spread throughout Great Yan.

…

「Several days earlier.」

In Qinghe Town, on the Liangqiao just outside its walls, a small stream gurgled as fish and shrimp swam freely.

On the hillside, Great Yan Military Banners fluttered in droves. Ranks of soldiers in black, fish-scale armor stood densely packed. The ground was littered with corpses whose veins had turned purple and faces black. Their eyes were bloodshot, their expressions frenzied, and their mouths foamed with saliva. On a straight banner, a single character was emblazoned: “Yao.”

With the encirclement and annihilation of the last rebel force, the “Rakshasa Evil Cult Uprising,” which had plagued the Great Yan Dynasty for three months, was finally quelled.

As the great army began its march back, a rumor spread through the ranks.

“The day we return is the day our Marshal shall be named Crown Prince.”

The Third Prince’s merits were outstanding, his contributions born of great hardship. Skilled in both civil and martial matters, he had earned the admiration of all the generals. He rightfully deserved a grand reward. And if he was rewarded, then they, the junior officers and commanders, could also expect a share of the spoils.

Along the way, everyone was in high spirits. They had won a great victory, and they feasted on wild game and sang songs, eagerly awaiting their rewards upon returning to the capital.

Until a bolt from the blue struck.

News traveled slowly; by the time they received the message, several days had already passed.

“Rewards are postponed, pending the Holy Emperor’s recovery.”

Once the Cabinet’s edict was announced, the generals were all displeased. As if fanned by ill-intentioned parties, this dissatisfaction quickly spread through the army, morphing into grumbling and sarcastic complaints.

They had fought through several commanderies to corner the rebels, and not only had the Court’s logistical support failed to keep up, but there hadn’t even been a single comforting word or empty promise.

After fighting to the brink of exhaustion to win the war, their rewards had yet to materialize. Resentment in the military camp soared to the heavens!

Soon, the call to “make the Marshal the Crown Prince” spread through the army.

This planted ideas in many people’s minds, and most importantly, it attracted the attention of the various Martial Marquises.

And so, a few of the Martial Marquises began to spread rumors among the troops.

That night, some confidants stirred up discussion among the officers and soldiers. “The Emperor is gravely ill and cannot rule,” they said. “Those scribes in the Cabinet are running the show now. We served the country and defeated its enemies, but who acknowledges our deeds? Even our rewards have been withheld! Why don’t we first support the Third Prince, Lu Guangyao, as Crown Prince, and then demand our due?”

Lu Guangyao himself immediately shut down the rumor as soon as it emerged.

He declared to the entire army that they must not, under any circumstances, commit an act of treason.

But the troops’ mutinous mood had already been fanned to a frenzy, and his words were useless. At that moment, Lu Guangyao’s sworn brothers, Zhang Ruchen and Bai Jingtiao, along with their fathers—Marquis Weiyuan, Marquis Zhongxin, and Marquis Wuan—saw that the time was ripe. They instructed the soldiers to drape a prepared yellow robe over the sleeping Lu Guangyao. Then, they all knelt before the Commander’s Camp, shouting “Long live the Crown Prince!” and proclaimed their support for him.

They weren’t fools. They didn’t commit outright treason by proclaiming the Third Prince as Emperor. Instead, they supported Lu Guangyao’s bid for Crown Prince, while simultaneously demanding that their rewards be granted.

The army of three hundred thousand made no move, remaining stationed in the various commanderies and prefectures of Great Yan. They did nothing, but their inaction was a thinly veiled threat against the Cabinet.

Because at that moment, it was the Court Cabinet that was running the country.

“You have ruined me!”

When Lu Guangyao awoke, he was seething with rage and began to curse them furiously.

But in the torch-lit night, as he looked into the expectant eyes of his soldiers, he finally let out a long sigh toward the heavens. “For your own selfish desires for wealth and status, you have made me Crown Prince. You must not commit any treasonous or outrageous acts. Demanding your rewards is fine, but you are not to harm the common people or plunder the cities. Otherwise, I will take my own life before my Imperial Father to atone for this crime!”

Hearing this, the generals immediately agreed.

But this mutiny sent a lasting shockwave through the court and the entire nation.

Hundreds of thousands of Great Yan’s elite troops defying an order from the Court—something like this had not been seen in the Yong’an Era for a very long time.

…

Thank you all for waiting.

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