Chapter 145: Golden Platform Martial Arts Discussion

The Wu Country, Royal Palace.

Night had just begun to fall.

Inside the Audience Hall, a Luminous Pearl hung from a beam while flames danced atop the purple copper candlesticks on the surrounding walls, illuminating the great hall as if it were day.

Behind the Imperial Desk, Qin Shiyue was buried in a mountain of memorials, her slender brows furrowed as she reviewed them one by one.

She wore a black brocade robe embroidered with a lifelike phoenix totem in gold thread.

Her long black hair was loosely tied up with a single, translucent Phoenix Head Jade Hairpin, allowing a few strands to fall free, accentuating her jade-like profile and long, snow-white neck.

Several palace maids stood in attendance on both sides of the hall, their eyes filled with awe and adoration as they watched her.

The Late King had campaigned for many years, vying for supremacy with the various Vassal States to establish the fourteen states of the Wu Dynasty.

Unfortunately, he had passed away suddenly from illness a century ago, leaving behind only a daughter.

On his deathbed, he entrusted his young heir to the Six Great Dukes—Zhen, Ding, Jing, Zhong, Wei, and Chen—to act as her regents.

Across the entire Celestial Divine Land, including the Four Great Dominator Countries and all the Vassal States, the Wu Dynasty was the only one with a female ruler!

Although she had inherited the throne by the Late King’s decree and had the support of the Six Great Dukes, it was no small feat for Her Highness to have so quickly stabilized the court and maintained that stability for a century, all while surrounded by powerful enemies.

Moreover, Your Highness’s talent for the Martial Dao was extremely high.

Despite her youth, she had already cultivated to the Nascent Soul Realm.

Among her peers, she was as rare as a phoenix feather or a qilin’s horn.

However, rumors had been swirling around the palace in recent years, suggesting that things were not as peaceful as they seemed.

Just then, the sound of footsteps came from outside, and an Imperial Guard announced from the doorway.

"Reporting to Your Highness, the Duke of Jing requests an audience."

Qin Shiyue looked up slightly. "Have him enter at once."

’For the Duke of Jing to come at this hour, he must have important news.’

Before long, a middle-aged man strode in. He was refined and handsome, with long, phoenix-like eyes. He wore a white official’s robe, the embroidery on it depicting a ferocious tiger perched atop a mountain peak, radiating a solemn authority.

The combination of such a refined man and this particular official attire created an exceptionally unique presence.

The Duke of Jing was also the Mountain Monarch Envoy of the Evil Extermination Bureau!

"Greetings, Your Highness."

The Duke of Jing bowed, his voice as gentle as jade, as pleasant as a spring breeze.

"Duke Jing, there is no need for such ceremony."

Qin Shiyue smiled faintly. "For you to come so late, has something urgent occurred?"

"Your Highness is wise."

The Duke of Jing nodded with a smile and produced a memorial from his sleeve. He handed it to a nearby palace maid with both hands and said, "This is a secret report just delivered by the Morning Bell Ringer of Jing State. I implore Your Highness to review it."

"The Morning Bell Ringer of Jing State?"

Qin Shiyue smiled. "That would be Mo Tang, correct? Duke Jing’s highly talented disciple."

The Duke of Jing replied, "Your Highness remembers correctly. However, when it comes to talent, she is still a far cry from Your Highness. This time was merely an opportunity for her to go out and gain some experience."

Qin Shiyue smiled without speaking, took the secret report, and opened it. Her gaze sharpened as she read.

This secret report involved the Witch Race!

Qin Shiyue read the entire report from beginning to end before slowly folding it shut.

"The Prefect of an entire city was under the control of the Witch Race. They lay dormant for so many years... Thankfully, Mo Tang was meticulous enough to notice the problem. Otherwise, the consequences would have been unimaginable."

Qin Shiyue asked, "Duke Jing, your disciple has performed such a great service so soon after taking her post. How should we reward her?"

"This is part of the Evil Extermination Bureau’s duty. It doesn’t count as a great service."

The Duke of Jing smiled. "Speaking of which, the person named Lu Bai mentioned in the report actually played a crucial role in this matter."

"Indeed."

Qin Shiyue nodded. "Mo Tang has already recruited him into the Evil Extermination Bureau and praised him highly in her report. His talent for the Martial Dao is truly remarkable. He’s young, yet he’s already earned the title ’Black Hand Yama.’ Quite impressive."

"Heh."

The Duke of Jing chuckled lightly. "The report says he is decisive and ruthless in his methods. He was originally called the Black Hand Young Hero. Even after changing his title, the ’Black Hand’ part still remains."

"By the way,"

the Duke of Jing continued, "Your Highness previously discussed with me the idea of holding a grand martial arts conference to select talented individuals, recruit heroes from across the land, and strengthen our nation. Have you made a decision?"

"Yes."

Qin Shiyue said in a low voice, "The preliminary selection will focus on experts at the True Master Martial Dao level, with an age limit of one hundred years. The final victor will be ennobled as a marquis and be named the First True Master of our Wu Dynasty!"

The Duke of Jing pondered for a moment. "This is a feasible plan. The Alchemy Dao is crucial in cultivation, and being able to step into the Golden Core Realm means crossing a critical threshold."

"Adding an age limit also indirectly reveals a True Master Martial Dao’s talent, suggesting a high probability of them reaching the Nascent Soul Realm in the future. It’s just that..."

The Duke of Jing trailed off.

Qin Shiyue said, "Duke Jing, please speak freely."

The Duke of Jing said, "As the saying goes, ’At the apex of the Martial Dao, a golden platform shall rise.’ If we wish to attract every True Master Martial Dao in the land, the rewards must be even more generous, lest the response be lackluster."

"Our dynasty’s national power is not strong at present. Even the promise of being ennobled as a marquis cannot compare to the resources offered by the Four Great Dominator Countries."

"What Duke Jing says is reasonable. Allow me to think on this further."

Qin Shiyue mused, "Actually, there is a treasure in the Armory that would definitely tempt every True Master Martial Dao in the land."

"Is Your Highness referring to an Exotic Treasure?" the Duke of Jing asked.

"Correct."

Qin Shiyue said, "The Desolate Emperor Ancestral Coin!"

"That Exotic Treasure is certainly significant enough."

The Duke of Jing continued, "And while the Desolate Emperor Ancestral Coin is an Exotic Treasure, its uses are limited. It can only exterminate evil and neutralize malevolent forces. It isn’t as powerful as other Exotic Treasures; its value comes more from its rarity and special significance."

Qin Shiyue said, "I heard my father say before that if one could gather all Five Emperors Ancestral Coins, they could unleash unexpected power, even ranking first among the Seventy-Two Exotic Treasures."

The Duke of Jing shook his head. "That is only a legend—ethereal and unsubstantiated. No one has ever managed to collect them all. After all, the other four Ancestral Coins are held within the imperial palaces of the Four Great Dominator Countries. It is impossible to gather them."

"Furthermore, this Exotic Treasure should be brought out more as a gimmick, a symbol. It cannot be directly awarded to the champion."

"If the winner is willing to serve our dynasty, we can temporarily entrust it to them. When that person advances to the Nascent Soul Realm, or when the next martial arts tournament begins, the Desolate Emperor Ancestral Coin must be passed on to the second generation’s First True Master of the Wu Dynasty, serving as a legacy and a symbol."

"Duke Jing, that is an excellent plan."

Qin Shiyue’s eyes lit up, and she exclaimed in admiration.

This way, they could keep the Desolate Emperor Ancestral Coin within the Wu Dynasty while still maintaining its appeal.

The martial arts tournament could also be held continuously, serving as a long-term mechanism for the Wu Dynasty to select talent.

The Duke of Jing said, "This martial arts tournament still needs a name."

"Just as you said, Duke Jing, ’At the apex of the Martial Dao, a golden platform shall rise.’ Let’s call it the Golden Platform Martial Arts Discussion!"

Qin Shiyue continued, "When the time comes, I will erect a Golden Martial Arts Discussion Platform in the Capital City. The True Masters Martial Dao from all corners will gather upon this Golden Platform to compete and determine who is superior."

"Golden Platform Martial Arts Discussion. Excellent, excellent."

The Duke of Jing nodded repeatedly.

Qin Shiyue smiled. "Duke Jing, your disciple will also be eligible to participate. Don’t forget about her when the time comes."

"Haha."

The Duke of Jing laughed. "Not just her; my humble son will also be able to attend this Golden Platform Martial Arts Discussion. I’ll have him go up and gain some experience."

Qin Shiyue sighed wistfully. "Speaking of which, it has been a long time since I’ve seen Junior Brother Ning."

The Duke of Jing smiled. "If Your Highness wishes, I can bring him to the palace at any time. The boy often reminisces with me about the old days, when he studied under the same master as Your Highness, under the Late King’s patronage."

Qin Shiyue simply smiled and did not reply. Her gaze fell back upon the pile of memorials on the Imperial Desk, and she suddenly asked, "Duke Jing, have you heard any rumors recently?"

"Hmm."

The Duke of Jing paused to think for a moment. "I wonder what Your Highness is referring to..."

"The ones concerning Duke Chen."

Qin Shiyue sighed softly.

The Duke of Jing understood. "I have heard a little."

A hint of weariness appeared on Qin Shiyue’s face as she asked, "So many of these memorials are impeachments against Duke Chen. What are your thoughts, Duke Jing?"