Chapter 406 - 395: The Final Part of the Deal (Part 2)

Chapter 406: Chapter 395: The Final Part of the Deal (Part 2)

Mr. Yuan nodded. "Our deal is mostly complete now."

Just as Bai Yuan was about to ask more about the demon seed, the piercing sound of a gong echoed from the distance.

It was the signal to sound the retreat.

It seemed the battle between the Xuan Yang Court and the Demon Sect was over.

Mr. Yuan said, "You don’t need to know too much. When the time is right, you’ll understand everything naturally."

With that, he led Kuaidong away, deeper into the dense forest.

Bai Yuan stood where he was, his brow furrowed.

But he soon relaxed. ’Whatever schemes Mr. Yuan is plotting, these Cultivation Techniques seem genuine. There’s no reason for me not to take them.’

He decisively shouldered the book satchel and walked back toward the army camp.

When he returned to the battlefield, Old Dong was supervising the soldiers as they cleared the area.

Old Dong looked on in confusion, seeing that Bai Yuan, who had left empty-handed, now had a book satchel.

Bai Yuan walked up to Old Dong and said just two words: "Mr. Yuan."

Hearing those two words, everything about the bizarre raid instantly clicked into place for Old Dong.

Over the past few days, he had learned of Mr. Yuan’s existence from Bai Yuan, who hadn’t even hidden the matter of the demon seed from him.

"Did he do anything to harm you?"

Bai Yuan shook his head.

Old Dong said, "In that case, you should leave Xiangzhou as soon as possible."

With that, he turned and left without so much as asking what was in the book satchel on Bai Yuan’s back.

What Martial Artist in the world didn’t have a few secrets?

Dong Wanjun figured his apprentice could handle his own affairs. If things truly got out of hand, he would naturally seek out his master for help.

Weren’t all master-apprentice relationships in the world like this?

...

Before dawn, Bai Yuan quietly slipped out of the Northern Garrison Army’s main camp alone.

Before he left, he turned and gave a respectful bow toward the camp.

He knew Old Dong had to be watching.

Thanks to the incredible speed of the Demon Horse beneath him, he was back at the Binzhou Prefecture Magistrate’s Office by sunset that very day.

The Prefect was surprised to see Bai Yuan’s swift return, but his surprise quickly gave way to his trademark sycophantic smile.

Ever since witnessing Bai Yuan’s power firsthand, he had been desperate for an opportunity to have a long, intimate chat with the Imperial Censor.

Bai Yuan ended up staying in the residence arranged by Tang Baichuan for a full half-month.

It wasn’t that the Binzhou scenery was particularly captivating; rather, Mr. Yuan had given him a staggering number of Cultivation Techniques. Their quality was terrifyingly high, in no way inferior to the techniques found in the Heavenly No. 1 Inner Treasury. He even found the Xiyue Sect’s secret internal technique among them: the Xiyue Heart Scripture.

He could only wonder how Yue Xiaobai would feel if he saw his sect’s most treasured technique in Bai Yuan’s possession.

Bai Yuan spent that half-month cultivating these techniques.

A sense of pride swelled within him as he looked at the dozen-plus new entries that had appeared in the Cultivation Technique section of his panel.

In the end, he chose a technique called the *Supreme Purity Record* to begin his training with.

This technique was the True Inheritance Heart Method of the Quanqing Sect. Within the Daoist Quanzhen Lineage, the Quanqing Sect was a major sect on par with the Dragon Tiger Sect. Legend had it that only Core Disciples deemed worthy of inheriting the position of Sect Leader were qualified to cultivate it.

As for how Mr. Yuan had managed to steal this technique, that was anyone’s guess.

Unless absolutely necessary, Bai Yuan had no intention of casually revealing this technique. If word of it ever reached the ears of the Quanqing Sect, there would be serious trouble.

In the days that followed.

Bai Yuan was always out from dawn till dusk. Though Tang Baichuan was curious, he didn’t dare ask about it.

What he found strange was that the number of cases for the Demon Slayer Guard had suddenly dwindled. For the past few days, they had been idle with nothing to do.

Every time the Demon Slayer Guard received a report about a demon and went to investigate, they would find its lair, only to discover the demon’s corpse.

This had been going on for over half a month.

It was truly baffling.

...

Just as peace was returning to the Northern Territory, another piece of earth-shattering news broke.

Xu Dingchun, the former Grand General of the North and current Minister of War, had finally broken through the Divinity Communication Barrier, becoming the Xuan Yang Court’s third Divinity Grandmaster.

Rumor had it that Emperor Li Chengyuan was overjoyed. He issued three consecutive Holy Decrees rewarding Xu Dingchun and even paid a personal visit to the Xu Mansion.

It was no wonder Li Chengyuan was so ecstatic.

A Divinity Grandmaster was a being whose existence was tied to the very fate of the nation, especially one who belonged to the Court.

The boon to the dynasty’s fortune from Xu Dingchun’s breakthrough was equivalent to a decade of accumulation for Xuan Yang. How could Li Chengyuan not be overjoyed?

The more Divinity Grandmasters the Court possessed, the greater his own chances of a breakthrough became.

Those at Mingxin Pass lived for three hundred years, but one who achieved Divinity Communication could live for four hundred.

An entire extra century. Who wouldn’t want that?

With the Xuan Yang Dynasty’s current abundant fortune, the appearance of just one more Divinity Grandmaster would guarantee that Li Chengyuan could ride the wave of destiny to his own breakthrough into Divinity Communication.

The emergence of a new Divinity Grandmaster was a cause for national celebration.

Li Chengyuan first performed rites to honor Heaven for seven days, then declared a general amnesty across the land.

This "general amnesty" meant releasing all prisoners who hadn’t committed the most heinous of crimes. This group included both the wrongfully accused and those who had truly done evil, making the news a source of joy for some and sorrow for others.

But a problem soon arose: there was no suitable position left for Xu Dingchun.

Among the Three Ducal Ministers, the positions of Grand Tutor and Grand Protector were already occupied by the more senior Liang Yuan Kang and Yan Shao’an. As for the vacant position of Grandmaster, that was even more impossible.

Ever since the Grand Ancestor Emperor passed away, no living person had held the position of Grandmaster; it was purely a posthumous, ceremonial title.

For a time, Xu Dingchun’s future appointment became the most talked-about subject in the realm.

"Lord Bai, my heartfelt congratulations!"

The moment the news of Xu Dingchun reached Binzhou, Tang Baichuan rushed to find Bai Yuan, almost happier than if he himself had made the breakthrough.

"What?!"

Bai Yuan happened to be at his residence. He shot to his feet upon hearing the news.

’I can’t believe it... My Master actually broke through!’

The world had said that Xu Dingchun was the person closest to the Divinity Communication Barrier, but that was all—just close. Breaking through that barrier was an incredibly difficult feat.

In the entire Xuan Yang Dynasty, only seven people had ever managed it.

And of those, only two—the Grand Tutor and the Grand Protector—belonged to the Xuan Yang Court.

When Bai Yuan had left the Capital City, he had felt that his Master’s aura was unnaturally immense, but he never would have guessed it was a sign of an impending breakthrough.

Tang Baichuan continued, "With such a powerful backer, Lord Bai, your future is sure to be a smooth and open road!"

After all, who in the world didn’t know that Bai Yuan was Xu Dingchun’s grand-disciple?

Now that Xu Dingchun had broken through, Bai Yuan’s position would be even more secure. He could probably beat up a Prince, and Emperor Li Chengyuan wouldn’t punish him too harshly.

He absolutely had to latch onto this powerful connection.

Xu Dingchun’s breakthrough would surely establish him as a third power to rival the factions of the Grand Tutor and the Grand Protector. Now was the perfect time to pick a side.

Bai Yuan took the official document from the Capital, which Tang Baichuan handed him.

Emperor Li Chengyuan spared no expense with his praise. The language was more magnificent than anything seen in a century, clearly showing the extent of his joy.

Bai Yuan, too, was genuinely happy for his Master’s breakthrough.

He just wondered how Li Chengyuan would arrange a position for Old Xu.

...

「Capital City, Imperial Palace, Imperial Study.」

Emperor Li Chengyuan sat on a grand throne carved from the Divine Tree Nine Dragon Wood.

Before him stood Grand Tutor Liang Yuan Kang and Xu Dingchun.

Grand Protector Yan Shao’an should have been present as well, but the old Grand Protector was thousands of miles away in Dingzhou and thus could not attend.

Li Chengyuan looked at Xu Dingchun, beaming so widely he couldn’t close his mouth.

The surge in the dynasty’s fortune over the past few days had benefited him immensely.

Three Divinity Grandmasters in a single dynasty—such a magnificent state of affairs hadn’t been seen in a thousand years. It was a moment that would be written about at length in the history books, and as the Emperor of this era, his own prestige would naturally be elevated along with it.

"I have summoned you both today precisely to discuss the matter of our dear minister Xu’s official position."

He began without preamble.

Grand Tutor Liang Yuan Kang stood with his hands clasped behind his back, a picture of detached indifference.

His position was too sensitive for him to get deeply involved in this matter; Emperor Li Chengyuan had likely summoned him merely to act as a witness.

The Emperor, who prided himself on being an enlightened ruler, had surely already made up his mind.

Li Chengyuan continued, "Our dear minister Xu’s breakthrough is a great blessing for the Xuan Yang Dynasty. Three Divinity Grandmasters in one court is a sign of great prosperity. I have consulted with the Ministry of Personnel and, following ancestral precedent, will name you Grand General of the Realm."

Upon hearing the five words "Grand General of the Realm"...

A flicker of emotion finally crossed the face of Grand Tutor Liang Yuan Kang, who had until now been as calm as still water.

The words "of the Realm" were anything but simple!

A flicker of astonishment crossed Xu Dingchun’s eyes as well. He took a deep breath, bowed deeply, and declared, "Your subject accepts the decree!"