He had ended his telepathic conversation with the Taoist Qingxu and once again raised his head to look at Pei Xuanjing.
Many people's look changed slightly as they noticed a drastic transformation in Zhu Yousong's demeanor.
Even though Zhu Yousong earlier was bold and decisive, unyielding and domineering, his air of resignation was indelible due to his readiness for death.
These people not knowing what Qingxu Taoist had whispered to Zhu Yousong, were surprised that he had completely brushed off his air of resignation, restoring his initial fighting spirit.
Albeit Pei Xuanjing was unaware how Qingxu Taoist convinced him, but seeing Zhu Yousong's demeanor, he was sure that his argument was successful.
Sure enough, Zhu Yousong announced loudly, "Pei Xuanjing, although I have managed to parry your first two moves by sheer luck, I absolutely cannot ward off your third move. Therefore, according to the agreement, I lost."
Boom!
All the people present were taken aback, unable to understand why Zhu Yousong, who was ready to die not too long ago, had suddenly changed his stance and agreed.
Many people couldn't help but glance at Qingxu Taoist, guessing what he could have possibly said to bring about such change in Zhu Yousong.
Of course, apart from their curiosity, the leaders of the major forces were secretly thrilled. They hadn't expected such a gain from their visit to Tiandu.
As the saying goes, precedents are there to be followed.
If the Shenxiao Sect, which Pei Xuanjing represents, is entitled to reclaim their portion from the Great Ming Royal family, then so are they.
Therefore, almost instantaneously, these people began calculating how they could achieve their objectives.
Some even considered whether they should follow suit and call upon the powerhouses in their respective factions to act.
"Your Highness!" "Your Lordship!"
"Uncle Huang!"
Various royal family members wanted to condemn his decision, their faces filled with shock.
Zhu Yousong turned around, glanced at the royal descendants with his grim face, and said sternly, "Is it so hard for our Zhu family to accept defeat? Our ancestor Emperor built this vast land and established Greater Ming six hundred years ago, from a mere beggar, do his descendants lack even the courage to accept defeat?"
There is no denying that Zhu Yousong commands high prestige among the royal family. Hearing Zhu Yousong's stern reprimand, the angry royal family members all calmed down and fell silent, no one daring to speak again.
As one of the few powerful figures in the royal family and bearing the title of Prince Xiang, Zhu Yousong could almost be considered the number one person under the emperor. Even the Empress Dowager held him in high regard.
Now that the late emperor has passed away and the new emperor has yet to ascend the throne, there is no dispute about his status. Therefore, even though the royal family was dissatisfied with this outcome, they could only suppress their anger and resentment and did not dare to object.
Besides, none of the royal family members who had the qualifications to be here today were foolish. Although they were unwilling to give up the royal family's interests, they were also clear that no one could stop Pei Xuanjing today, as even Prince Xiang could not rival him.
The intimidating aura emanating from Pei Xuanjing dissipated, and he became calm and indifferent again. He flicked his sleeve, and a scroll of silk flew out from his cuff and fell into Zhu Yousong's hands.
"The spoken word is no proof; written consent is evidence."
"Good ! "
After reading what was written on the silk scroll, Zhu Yousong didn't bother to find a brush. He simply cut his finger and signed his name in blood.
The content on the scroll was simple, and there weren't any outrageous demands written. It simply reiterated the teachings left behind by the founding emperor.
But Zhu Yousong understood that what mattered was not the content written on it, but the attitude. By signing in front of so many people today, he undeniably acknowledged this fact, which held a significance greater than the actual words.
But Zhu Yousong was not one to hesitate. The moment he was persuaded by the Taoist Qingxu, he knew that he had no more room for maneuver. No matter how impolite or how large Pei Xuanjing's demands were that day, he would unhesitatingly accept them.
Today's battle made him understand one thing: what Pei Xuanjing said was true, the world ultimately adheres to the law of the survival of the fittest.
Todays' Pei Xuanjing could impose his will upon him not because he had the moral high ground, but because he was powerful, while Zhu Yousong was helpless to resist.
If he could one day match or even overpower the other party, regardless of how righteous the other party's arguments were, they would be futile.
"Here!" he threw the scroll over and said in a clear voice, "After the new king is enthroned, there will be a decree from the new king."
His eyes bore into Pei Xuanjing. By now, he understood that Pei Xuanjing's presence today was not an individual endeavour but was certainly backed by a significant power and was likely already secretly collaborating with key figures in the Court.
"I shall await the day," Pei Xuanjing caught the scroll, glanced at it, and then tucked it away.
This artefact was, like Zhu Yousong anticipated, not all about what it said or Zhu Yousong's autograph.
What mattered was that under the watchful eyes of everyone present, the royal family had bowed down, minting this as an irrefutable fact.
Next, after the new emperor ascends the throne and grants Pei Xuanjing a new title, the Shenxiao Sect can be transformed from being outlaws in the Great Ming Imperial Court to becoming owners in the Great Ming Dynasty.
As Prince Xiang yielded in representation of the royal family, today's morning court meeting also concluded.
Although the candidate for the succession did not yet exist, everyone understood that this morning meeting could not continue. With so many events happening today, even high-ranking officials were struggling to process everything all at once. Everyone urgently needed time to digest all this information and formulate their next plan of action.
Moreover, anyone wise enough would know that the next successor would inevitably be Prince Xing. King Anshan's grandson had thoroughly lost his chance at the throne.
After all, there were initially two final candidates, but Yang Tinghe, who had strongly advocated for Anshan King'S grandson, was confirmed to be the Demonic Cult Blood Demon who had been missing for some time, which disqualified him from inheriting the throne and might even implicate King Anshan.
However, to the surprise of many, as Prince Xiang was leaving, he invited Qingxu Taoist, the leader of the true martial sect.
At this time and under these circumstances, his actions couldn't help but generate speculation and pondering.
Many thoughtful faces emerged among the crowd. As people guessed whether he purposefully invited Qingxu Taoist in front of everyone for all to see..
Nighttime draws near, and the bustling Tiandu gradually quiets down.
High above in the sky, the bright moon hangs, casting its radiant moonlight across the horizon. Stars twinkle inconsistently, unable to ever compete with the brilliance of the moon.
Pei Xuanjing put on a Daoist robe and sat cross-legged atop a jade platform in a pavilion of Baiyun Temple. The battle during the day did not cause much fluctuation in Pei Xuanjing's emotions. Even with the execution of a long-planned scheme, he remained mostly unfazed, considering it little more than a natural progression.
His heart tranquil as water without a hint of ripples. His rhythmic breathing in and out matched the cycle of the moon's illuminations. It is as if he had become one with heaven and earth, allowing the moonlight to drape over him like a layer of silvery gauze, emanating an aura of sanctity.
However, this leisurely tranquility didn't last long, soon shattered by a voice.
"Taoist Friend, you remained so calm despite what you accomplished today; I can't help but admire you, " the voice broke in.
Pei Xuanjing let out a sigh, slowly opened his eyes, and calmly said, "Master Guan, you're exaggerating."
Daoist Xuanming, the Master of Baiyun Temple, leapt onto the jade platform and sat on another meditation cushion, shaking his head and smilingly said, "I am not exaggerating your divine power displayed today, not a bit."
Indeed, there was no exaggeration in his intention. His admiration for Pei Xuanjing was wholehearted.
Despite his pre-existing estimation of Pei Xuanjing's abilities, Daoist Xuanming was still astounded when Pei Xuanjing truly showed his strength, for it was as if he was of the divine realm.
Furthermore, after witnessing the two moves Pei Xuanjing used against Prince of Xiang, Zhu Yousong, Xuanming speculated that even if he were in Zhu Yousong's place, he might not necessarily be able to withstand them.
Even more intriguingly, Xuanming suspected Pei Xuanjing might have held back, not truly exerting his full power.
"Seeing your cheerful look, it seems like you've gleaned quite a lot from the Blood Demon, Yang Tinghe!" Pei Xuanjing began with a smile.
Upon leaving the Imperial City, Jiang Bin wanted to take Yang Tinghe again but was rejected by Pei Xuanjing, which aroused Pei Xuanjing's suspicion.
However, he didn't have the time to keep an eye on Jiang Bin right now. He merely brought Yang Tinghe back to Baiyun Temple and handed him over to Daoist Xuanming.
Bai Xiaosheng would typically be the best choice to extract information from Yang Tinghe, but he was occupied with pressing matters.
Thanks to his heroism that day, Pei Xuanjing had earned King Xing's trust and remained by his side to make some preparations, thus he couldn't handle this task.
Pei Xuanjing initially planned to keep Yang Tinghe in Baiyun Temple for the time being, waiting for Bai Xiaosheng to take over after caring for his affairs.
But as soon as Daoist Xuanming saw Yang Tinghe, he became interested and suggested giving it a try himself, possibly obtaining secrets from Yang Tinghe's body.
Upon someone volunteering, Pei Xuanjing, of course, had no objections. As long as Yang Tinghe wasn't killed or turned into a fool, everything else was fair game.
Daoist Xuanming gave a slight smile, "You really are formidable, Taoist Friend."
Indeed, he had acquired much information from Yang Tinghe, carrying immense significance that could stir a storm no less tumultuous than today's events, had it been disclosed.
"Is there anything discovered?" Pei Xuanjing curiously inquired.
If the rumors about this Blood Demon were true, then he undoubtedly held a significant secret.
Apart from this secret, what surprised Pei Xuanjing even more were Daoist Xuanming•s techniques.
Only two or three hours had passed since Xuanming had taken over Yang Tinghe and he was already making progress probing the secret. This efficiency was indeed terrifying.
Pei Xuanjing inwardly thought: Baiyun Temple had a profound relationship with the former dynasty and received great favors. Looking at it now, they seemed to have obtained quite a few things after the demise of the former dynasty.
Daoist Xuanming knew nothing of Pei Xuanjing's conjecture, but even if he did, he would only respond with a slight smile and not take it seriously.
The ability for Baiyun Temple to withstand all odds was due to their trump cards. What was revealed today was simply the tip of the iceberg.
He subtly uttered, proffering a question, "Have you, Taoist Friend, ever heard of the tale of Earth Immortal?"
Earth Immortal!
"Of course, I have!"
Pei Xuanjing raised his brow slightly. How could he possibly not have heard of the Earth Immortal path?
According to his speculation, the future path to Becoming Immortal should fall into five categories, corresponding to Heaven, Earth, Man, God, and Ghost.
"Could it be that this Blood Demon mingling within the court is related to the Earth Immortal Path?" Pei Xuanjing wondered.
"Indeed!" Daoist Xuanming affirms, "Years ago, the Blood Demon, Yang Tinghe, planned for decades in the shadows of the court to accomplish one thing that, if achieved, might have made him an Immortal."
"Oh?" Pei Xuanjing curiously inquired.
Daoist Xuanming uttered slowly, revealing the mysterious phrase: "Meld body with Blessed Land for longevity and immortality."
Meld body with Blessed Land for longevity and immortality!
Boom!
Upon hearing those words, Pei Xuanjing had a sudden realization. The puzzle that had been a bothering mystery in his mind was finally solved, and he burst into hearty laughter: "Ha ha ha…" In this instant, he finally understood the profound meaning of the Forbidden Place, the Blessed Land.
The so-called Forbidden Places, Blessed Lands, and the rare items.
The so-called Forbidden Places and Blessed Lands should be known as Cave Heavens, and the rare items should represent the core and authority of these Cave Heavens, also deemed as 'Taoist Fruits' of Cave Heaven.
These continuously appearing Forbidden Places and Blessed Lands with rare items are exactly the Cave Heavens necessary for the Earth Immortal Path, as mentioned in the Netherworld Book which Pei Xuanjing obtained after completing the simulation in Zhenwu Mountain.
In the past, Pei Xuanjing had made a mistake believing that the Cave Heavens, the Blessed Lands, were profoundly influential mountains and great peaks, causing him to instinctively think that those powerful practitioners of the Earth Immortal Path had chosen to merge their bodies with these mountains and peaks. Even though he had once entered a Forbidden Place, a Blessed Land himself, he had not discovered anything unusual.
Only now did he come to the sudden realization that these Cave Heavens, Blessed Lands, were not only represented by influential mountains and peaks, but are essentially the lands formed by supreme divine abilities.
After all, the world, no matter how vast and broad, does have its limits.
Every which one of the renowned mountains and peaks that could be referred to as Cave Heaven, Blessed Land, were occupied by prominent forces, and were home to numerous mighty practitioners. It would be nearly impossible to seize control of one.
Not to mention the cultivators who aren't backed by a power trying to acquire a Cave Heaven, even the mighty practitioners within major forces would find that the sacred mountains and fertile lands they occupy were scarce.
Compared to choosing a piece of Cave Heaven, Blessed Land, to cultivate one's Daoist principle with personal magical powers, the latter seemed much more fitting.
Only by doing this will they be able to create a Blessed Land, Cave Heaven, that is most compatible with their own Daoist path and capable of sustaining it..
Why is it that after refining mysterious objects found in forbidden blessed lands, martial artists can raise their strength to a certain realm, but it's difficult to advance further? Generally speaking, it causes martial artists to remain at a certain realm for the rest of their lives. To promote, unless they obtain other compatible mysterious objects to refine, they will forever be unable to progress.
The reason is straightforward, refining a mysterious object is essentially equivalent to fusing oneself with the blessed land, thus walking the path of the Earth Immortal. Their power is bound with the blessed land they have fused with.
Yet because those who first opened the forbidden blessed lands varied in strength, it'S dictated the range of Taoist fruits' strengths, leading to refinements at different realms.
For martial artists who take up the path of refining mysterious objects, unknowingly they have embarked on the path of longevity. Their cultivation should not focus on further refining themselves, but rather on how to advance their blessed land.
Only when the blessed land they have fused with continues to rise in prominence will their own strength increase correspondingly.
The so-called fusion of other compatible mysterious objects is in fact a form of disguised encroachment, merging two similar blessed lands, and elevating them.
But over the years, there is an endless number of martial artists refining mysterious objects. Couldn't there be a single person who has uncovered the secret?
Pei Xuanjing frowned inwardly, conjecturing in his heart.
Perhaps, according to common sense, only those martial artists who lack talents in Martial Arts would choose to refine mysterious objects to advance. For them, this essentially severs their own path.
Those talented ones who have reached the pinnacle of Martial Arts on their own strength disdain to use external objects to enhance themselves, thus they wouldn't study these things.
The ones who can refine mysterious objects lack the talent to discover the secrets, while those who are qualified disregard such trivial things.
Only such reasoning could cause such a method, one that could lead to Immortality, to be overlooked, forming a blind spot that remains concealed even now.
In addition, based on the information Pei Xuanjing has obtained regarding cultivation, when divided according to the three major realms: Mortal Realm, Spirit Realm, and Immortal Realm, until Heaven and Earth hadn't decayed yet, only stepping into the Spirit Realm was considered truly stepping onto the path of cultivation.
Hence, even if this method had been passed down initially, the minimum requirement would probably be that only cultivators who stepped into the Spirit Realm could practice it. Those at the Mortal Realm simply couldn't.
Looking at Daoist Xuanming, whose complexion looked odd, Pei Xuanjing laid out all the information he knew without any reserve.
After all, these were his own words, entirely speculation and conjecture without much proof, so he needed Daoist Xuanming to help him consider them.
After all, Baiyun Temple has a long lineage and its foundation is profound, exactly how many secrets it has, no one knows.
Hiss!
Upon hearing Pei Xuanjing's words, Daoist Xuanming couldn't help sucking in a cold breath.
He hadn't expected that just a few words revealed so much to Pei Xuanjing, he couldn't help but exclaim, "It seems that Taoist friend truly has received the entire inheritance of the Shenxiao Sect."
Just as Pei Xuanjing speculated, Baiyun Temple as one of the three ancestral courts of Quanzhen, is profound and naturally understands many unknown secrets.
You must know that Daoist Chongyang, who opened up the Quanzhen lineage, dominated the Martial Arts world in his era, and no one dared to compete with him. At that time, it wasn't too long after the fall of the Tang Dynasty, and some information was still circulating.
Furthermore, later on, due to Baiyun Temple's relationship with the former Yuan Dynasty, they acquired many secrets with the help of the latter.
That was until later the Yuan Dynasty destroyed many secret transmissions and books, and after the uprising of the founder of the Great Ming Dynasty, an unprecedented war enveloped the entire world, causing many things to disappear in the river of history.
Daoist Xuanming was sure that not even the now prosperous Great Ming royal family and the True Martial Sect had information about this, it was the advantage of a profound lineage that had been passed down for ages.
As for the information Pei Xuanjing mentioned, he could only explain it through the inheritance of the Shenxiao Sect, without many other reasons.
After all, at the height of the Shenxiao Sect's glory, their influence was so great that even their Quanzhen lineage had to dodge their limelight.
No one could tell how many secrets the Feather Guest of Jinmen managed to obtain at the time.
"But how did Yang Tinghe discover this secret?" Pei Xuanjing was somewhat puzzled.
Daoist Xuanming thought this question was simple, he said indifferently, "Taoist friend, do not underestimate the Demonic Cult, their inheritance is no less profound than the Taoist School. If it weren't for Ancestor Sanfeng who exterminated demons back then, the Demonic Cult wouldn't be in decline today."
In the entanglement between Taoism, Demonic Cult, and Buddhism that has lasted for so long, let's not talk about Buddhism, an outsider group. The inheritances of Taoism and Demonic Cult have both been passed down for a long time and are not well Imown, it's hard for anyone to know how much they have accumulated over so many years.
If it weren't for the late period of the former dynasty when the Demonic Cult provoked Ancestor Sanfeng, being swept away in all four directions by him alone, including the execution of the Demonic
Cult leader, the Demonic Cult definitely wouldn't have declined and become as decayed as it is today.
"Also, perhaps Taoist friend may not be aware, but the Blood Demon Yang Tinghe is also quite talented, otherwise, he wouldn't have been considered a major threat by Xue Wuheng back then," He spoke towards Pei Xuanjing.
"I see." Pei Xuanjing nodded in understanding, a realization appearing in his heart.
Thus, it seems that the Blood Demon learned this information from the secrets of the Demonic Cult's inheritance, which led him to plot and scheme, enduring decades of infiltration in the court.
Of course, there is also a possibility that he received related clues from the forbidden, blessed land where he was trapped.
Regardless of which one it is, some of the information should be accurate.
That is, this method should be true, or at least there's a high probability, otherwise, he wouldn't have put in so much effort to plan.
"I wonder if it's possible to learn more about the specific layout?" , Pei Xuanjing asked curiously.
Daoist Xuanming shook his head, "It's impossible. This kind of matter related to core secrets was protected by him through a unique method. It'S fundamentally hard to obtain."
During the late period of the former dynasty, in order to extract clues from certain staunch criminals, the Yuan Empire created a Soul Capture Skill after multiple experiments and attempts. This allowed them to hypnotize criminals, who then let down their guard and spilled out the secrets they held deep within their hearts.
By relying on this bizarre and unique skill, they were able to deduce an innumerable amount of secrets.
Later, after the fall of the Yuan Empire, everyone thought that this skill had been lost and disappeared, but unexpectedly, Baiyun Temple acquired this skill and transformed it into one of their fundamental skills.
This time, if it weren't for Yang Tinghe's secrets that greatly intrigued Daoist Xuanming, and also his desire to show his value within their alliance, he absolutely wouldn't have used this skill so easily..