Zhao Tianhe's expression grew uglier. He knew Jiang Lan was using the Confucius Temple to threaten him.
'The Confucius Temple is doing well?'
Who in the imperial court didn't know that the Confucius Temple was in decline, going from bad to worse with each passing day? If not for the High Priest holding it together, it would have long since fallen into the Prime Minister's hands.
"Young Master Lan, what will it take for you to let Young Master Lin go?" he asked again, gritting his teeth.
Jiang Lan took a slow sip of tea, seeming to ponder for a moment before speaking with great interest. "I've heard that every Sacrificial Priest of the Confucius Temple holds a Master's Order, something that even many Great Scholars have never seen."
"I, of course, have never seen this Master's Order myself, and I'm quite curious. How about this, Elder Zhao? Lend me the Master's Order in your possession for a few days so I can admire it."
In the original plot, Lin Fan would later obtain the Master's Order from Zhao Tianhe.
That Master's Order was the key to a Confucian ruin, holding within it a massive, heaven-sent opportunity.
The ruins contained countless opportunities, including various ancient Confucian scriptures, Secret Technique Scrolls, and Exotic Treasures. There was even a supreme Great Divine Technique of the ancient Confucian Dao known as "Mouth Holding the Heavenly Constitution"—a power that made one's words act like the laws of heaven, its might was boundless.
Although Jiang Lan couldn't cultivate at the moment, that didn't stop him from planning for his future.
'Once I get my hands on the Immortal Embryo Creation Dew...'
'I will take all these opportunities for myself.'
'In this world, having a powerful background alone is nothing but a castle in the air, an illusion. What I seek is to live forever, to exist for all eternity.'
'As for promising to let Lin Fan go, those were just words. Does this old fox really take me seriously? For a "useless second-generation heir" like me, going back on my word is perfectly normal, isn't it?'
'Once I have the Master's Order, does Zhao Tianhe really think he'll get it back?'
"The Master's Order?"
Zhao Tianhe frowned, somewhat puzzled. 'What would Jiang Lan want with something like that?'
In theory, every Sacrificial Priest of the Confucius Temple did indeed possess a Master's Order as a symbol of their status.
It also granted them entry into any Confucius Temple within the Great Xia Dynasty, allowing them to peruse the vast ocean of Confucian scriptures held within.
Scholars across the land revered the Master's Order as a Holy Object.
'He, Jiang Lan, is an ignorant second-generation heir who has never dabbled in the doctrines of the Confucian Dao. What could he possibly want the Master's Order for?'
'And how did he even find out about it?'
'Could he have overheard it from his father?'
"The Master's Order is extremely precious. How could I possibly carry it on my person so casually? Perhaps Young Master Lan could make another request..." Although Zhao Tianhe didn't know what Jiang Lan would do with the Master's Order, he still instinctively refused.
'If the Prime Minister wanted to read Confucian scriptures or enter the various Confucius Temples, he wouldn't need a Master's Order at all.'
'So it's of no use to him, either.'
Jiang Lan had long guessed this old fox wouldn't be willing to hand over the Master's Order so easily. He put on an expression that said "I expected as much" and smiled faintly. "Forget it. If Elder Zhao doesn't have something as precious as the Master's Order on him, then so be it."
"To be honest, I'm not that interested in such Confucian trinkets anyway. By comparison, Dieyi's pretty face is far more appealing. Let's go back to my first request. Elder Zhao, have Dieyi keep me company for a few days, and I'll let bygones be bygones regarding this fellow's offense today."
Zhao Tianhe's expression froze. When he realized what was happening, he couldn't help but curse inwardly. He had almost fallen for the guy's trap.
'I knew it! What use would an ignorant second-generation heir have for a Master's Order? His real target was Dieyi all along.'
'He must have learned about the Master's Order's special nature from his father, the Prime Minister, and assumed I wouldn't be carrying it. That's why he deliberately asked for it.'
'That way, I wouldn't be able to produce the Master's Order, leaving me no choice but to agree to his first demand?'
'A fine plan, he thought.'
'But utterly ridiculous.'
'Even if I truly couldn't produce the Master's Order, I would never push my own granddaughter into a fiery pit to keep him company for a few days.'
"I suddenly recall... the Master's Order is the symbol of a Sacrificial Priest of the Confucius Temple. When I'm traveling, I should be carrying it with me..."
"Young Master Lan, why don't you let this old man search for it? What if I do have it on me?"
Zhao Tianhe frowned in thought, putting on a show of just having remembered as he began to pat himself down.
Hearing this, the smile on Jiang Lan's face faded. His eyes narrowed slightly, and his slender fingers began to tap slowly on the stone table.
Su Qinghan stole a glance at him. She didn't know if it was her imagination, but she felt a sense of mockery and amusement in Jiang Lan's posture.
Seeing that Zhao Tianhe seemed genuinely about to produce the Master's Order, Jiang Lan waved his hand and said, "Elder Zhao, why take it so seriously? I was only joking. How could I truly want your Master's Order..."
However, before he could finish his sentence, Zhao Tianhe cut him off.
A knowing smile appeared on his aged face. "Young Master Lan, you are the Son of the Prime Minister. Surely you wouldn't go back on your own words, would you?"
As he spoke, he casually tossed a simple, ancient-looking Token, wreathed in Confucian Energy, onto the stone table in front of Jiang Lan.
The Token wasn't large, only about half the size of a palm.
The front was carved with a square, ancient character for "Confucianism." It was made of an unknown material, its color a greenish-black, and it was suffused with a Vast Righteous Qi as thick and profound as the earth itself.
"This is the Master's Order?"
Jiang Lan showed a hint of astonishment, as if he never expected Zhao Tianhe to actually produce the Master's Order.
Inwardly, however, he was comparing it to the memories in his mind, trying to determine if it was real.
'The description of its appearance is basically identical to what was in the text. This should be it.'
'There's no way Zhao Tianhe would try to fool me with a fake Master's Order at a time like this.'
Seeing Jiang Lan's expression, Zhao Tianhe stroked his beard and smiled. "I have complied with Young Master Lan's request and lent you the Master's Order. I wonder, will Young Master Lan be able to keep his promise?"
'To the Confucian scholars of the world, the Master's Order is as precious as a Holy Object.'
'But in the hands of a second-generation heir like Jiang Lan, who is completely unrelated to the Confucian Dao, this thing is no different from an ordinary token.'
'Even if Jiang Lan doesn't return it, with my status, it wouldn't be difficult to get another one from the Confucius Temple... '
Jiang Lan's expression remained impassive, but inwardly he could only scoff.
He could naturally guess what Zhao Tianhe was thinking.
'The current Confucius Temple can't just produce a Master's Order. The existence of these things dates back to before the founding of the Great Xia Dynasty. Each one lost is one gone forever.'
'The other Sacrificial Priests of the Confucius Temple lost theirs long ago.'
'But by the time Zhao Tianhe realizes that, it will be far too late.'
With a sweep of his wide sleeve, Jiang Lan collected the Master's Order and said coolly, "Since Elder Zhao has personally pleaded for him, I certainly won't make things difficult for him any longer. As for what happens next, let's handle it according to the current laws of Great Xia."
"During Emperor Xia's reign, the iron laws are orderly and the rules are strict. I'm sure Elder Zhao is well aware of this."
As he took the Master's Order,
Jiang Lan could clearly feel an inexplicable aura in the unseen Void growing stronger, then descending into the Mud Ball Palace within his Sea of Consciousness.
The Destiny Dao Fruit growing on that vine had clearly gotten much larger. Its color had deepened slightly, and it was now the size of a thumb, its surface entwined with faint, mysterious markings.
Jiang Lan wasn't surprised by this development.
In fact, when he was suppressing Lin Fan just now, he could clearly feel the destiny flowing from the Void toward the vine growing more abundant and denser.
It was a process of plunder where one's gain was another's loss.
'Of course, the most urgent task is to deal with the threat of Lin Fan first. The matter of the Destiny Dao Fruit can be dealt with slowly later.'
'I can't put the cart before the horse.'